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Abstract: One of the most important factors in the thermal behavior of exterior walls is the thermal conductivity of the clay in their bricks. The higher the percentage of lightening additives incorporated, the better the thermal behavior of the bricks. But as their thermal characteristics are improved the mechanical properties of bricks deteriorate. The goal is to study the influence of paper pulp as a lightening additive on the thermal and mechanical properties of the fired clay, and to improve the thermal properties as far as possible without the mechanical properties falling below the required levels. This involved the preparation of test specimens that were then subjected to the corresponding assays of thermal conductivity and mechanical strength. It is found that around 15% of paper pulp can be added without the brick''s mechanical properties ceasing to comply with current legislation. This amount of paper pulp has improved conductivity properties by 39.69% compared to the clay without additives, recording a minimum conductivity value at 10°C of 0.45W/m-K. This decrease in the conductivity of the clay results in a 16% improvement in equivalent thermal transmittance for brick walls made in the same way. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The state of art of wet substrate materials is presented. • Five materials were tested and compared to Kraft paper as wet substrate. • Absorption, evaporation and moisture-wicking capacities were determined according to norm NF ISO 20158, NF EN ISO 9073-6 and AATCC 198. • Taking into account the cost, our results suggest that Fibre fabrics (tight straight weave) is a good choice for evaporative cooling Pad purpose. Due to the ever-growing demand for air-conditioning to bring the indoor air temperature to a comfortable level despite the unreasonable electricity consumption, research is more oriented towards techniques in connection with new methods enabling more energy savings and less adverse environmental impacts. Dew point evaporative cooling systems hold among the most promising. Their ability to use the evaporation of water to absorb heat from the air in order to lower its temperature below its wet bulb level without adding humidity, is an extremely low-energy and eco-friendly cooling principle. The properties of the material used in the construction of the wet channel surface in an evaporative cooler, i.e, its moisture wicking ability, diffusivity and evaporation capacity, can alter cooling efficiency and performance considerably. The irregular fibres help to divert moisture and enlarge the wet area, thus promoting evaporation. A measuring device was mounted to test the capillary rise of evaporative fabrics, which is one of the techniques used to assess the liquid moisture transmission performance of fabrics. A variety of materials (fabrics) woven from different types of fibres have been experimentally tested and compared to Kraft paper, which is commonly used as a wet surface medium in evaporative cooling systems. The wicking rate of fabrics obtained from the test device correlated well with the NF EN ISO 9073-6. Consequently, the test device clearly demonstrated differences between the fabrics used in the study, and can be used to determine vertical wicking behaviour of fabrics. Most textile fabrics have been found to have superior properties and qualities in terms of moisture wicking ability than the Kraft Paper. Also, that the type of weaving and the compactness of the fabric improved the capillary rise. Compared to Kraft paper, the absorbency of some fabrics has been found 160% to 355% higher. An estimation evaluation regarding both moistures transfer and mechanical properties revealed that two of the fabrics were the most suitable for evaporative cooling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant focus of research and new technologies for reducing energy use in buildings is on operating the systems more efficiently during the times when the systems are active. However, there is a large potential for energy savings in determining the periods when the systems should or should not be active. This scheduling aspect of operation is often overlooked even though relatively simple solutions can unlock substantial energy savings. This paper describes a smart building start (SBS) algorithm that considers multiple zones in a building to determine individual schedules for room controllers as well as the central systems based on solving a simple optimization problem. Application of the SBS algorithm to multiple interconnected systems enables a staggered start-up that minimizes peak loads and also ensures comfort is within a target range with minimal system run time. The SBS algorithm extends the capability of traditional optimal start and is designed to be simple to deploy and robust. Simulation results as well as results from tests in a real building with a VAV system are presented. The presented algorithm is applicable to any type of building with a zonal or multi-zone HVAC system. To function, it needs to be able to change setpoints in rooms and monitor room temperatures, as well as, if desired, turn the central system on or off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Social Network Analysis and Text Mining to analyze 8024 abstracts on LCA and Building. • The semantic brand score measures the semantic importance of seven issues related to Building and Sustainability. • Limited publications assessing the social impact of LCA in buildings. • Materials are the most central issue in the literature on sustainable buildings. Research on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is being conducted in various sectors, from analyzing building materials and components to comprehensive evaluations of entire structures. However, reviews of the existing literature have been unable to provide a comprehensive overview of research in this field, leaving scholars without a definitive guideline for future investigations. This paper aims to fill this gap, mapping more than twenty years of research. Using an innovative methodology that combines social network analysis and text mining, the paper examined 8024 scientific abstracts. The authors identified seven key thematic groups, building and sustainability clusters (BSCs). To assess their significance in the broader discourse on building and sustainability, the semantic brand score (SBS) indicator was applied. Additionally, t building and sustainability trends were tracked, focusing on the LCA concept. The major research topics mainly relate to building materials and energy efficiency. In addition to presenting an innovative approach to reviewing extensive literature domains, the article also provides insights into emerging and underdeveloped themes, outlining crucial future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different active and passive daylighting systems based on optical fibers and light pipe. • Fresnel lens solar concentrator systems for practical daylighting. • Thermal heat management system with selective filters and waveguide systems. • Technical and Economical analysis of commercialized daylighting systems. • Possibilities for practical daylighting to achieve target of net carbon zero building. In this work we examine the important daylighting systems in the last decade and also discuss the potential of some practical viable daylighting systems which can be commercialized in the near future. The available review on daylighting is either related to fiber-based daylighting or light pipe-based daylighting systems. The discussion on solar concentrators and heat management systems for optical fibers is not widely covered in the literature. In this paper, various type of solar concentrator used for collection of sunlight for daylighting is also discussed. Among all, Fresnel lens based solar concentration is gaining interest due to its light weight, cost effective and ease of installation. Computer based programming methods had been used for daylighting in the past to estimate and measure the daylight level into the rooms. However, the real experimental and weather conditions play a vital role for any daylighting system. Although the development of daylighting system is still expensive due to the cost of transmission medium like silica-based fiber as transmission medium, however the research progress in the area of daylighting system would achieve low-cost system in the near future. This paper also aims to provide technical barriers, environment aspects and the future possibilities for development of the daylighting systems more efficiently at the low cost. The selection of a suitable design and geometry for a daylighting system will reduce dependence on electrical loads and also it will help in achieving the net zero building target of the countries in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the normal operation of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) can not only reduce the additional energy consumption caused by faults, but also satisfy people's comfort requirements. Typical faults in HVAC systems include cooling coil valve stuck, damper stuck, inadequate return fan airflow, duct leakage, etc. However, due to the lack of understanding or experience of the system, some faults may not be known and be misdiagnosed as normal or other faults, resulting in serious consequences. Therefore, the diagnosis of unknown faults in HVACs becomes increasingly important. In recent years, various deep learning algorithms have been used for troubleshooting faults in HVACs. However, these efforts rarely discuss how to diagnose unknown faults. In this paper, considering that the deep forest is a highly accurate classifier, different deep forests are likely to yield consistent results when faced with known faults, but are likely to yield inconsistent results when dealing with unknown faults. Based on this concept, this paper proposes a stochastic deep forest method for detecting unknown faults. This method integrates the results from different deep forests and extracts a fault feature that is highly sensitive to unknown faults, which is then added to the fault feature set. The proposed method is calibrated using data from the ASHRAE database, and no experimental investigation is carried out in this work. Results show that that the F1-score of unknown faults by the proposed method exceeds 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing Urban Building Energy Models (UBEM) to manage heat decarbonisation at the neighbourhood level is both crucial and challenging. Our study addresses key research challenges: quantifying peak heat energy demand and developing reliable and replicable urban energy demand microsimulations. We applied our UBEM approach to a case study area of 228 houses served by the Ridgeway New Low Voltage (LV) electrical substation in Newcastle upon Tyne, to estimate the difference between existing peak heat and electricity demand at this scale. Results show that peak heat demand is 5 to 14 times greater than peak electricity demand, significantly exceeding estimates from national studies. Furthermore, our work follows a comprehensive validation framework, comparing our simulation results against all relevant and available UK datasets. This comparison demonstrates that our model is an overall good fit at the declared Level of Detail. However, our paper identifies significant challenges, particularly in validation, that need to be addressed to improve the reliability and usability of future UBEMs. Finally, we reflect on all our findings and make policy recommendations, as we believe addressing the issues raised in this paper is vital for enabling area-based planning of residential heating electrification, particularly in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrative literature review was carried out, with 269 papers reviewed. • Italy publishes the most on the subject, followed by China, Spain, and the USA. • Improving the envelope's thermal insulation is the most used strategy worldwide. • Other aspects of retrofits were discussed, including benefits and disadvantages. • Future retrofit assessments were suggested based on the conclusions. Given the high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings worldwide, sustainable strategies that provide conscious use of natural resources and suitable conditions of indoor environments for users are essential. In this sense, the objective of this paper was to present an overview of retrofit strategies aimed at improving energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings. The work is based on an integrative literature review of studies carried out in several countries over the last seven years. The main benefits of the retrofit strategies are reducing energy consumption, decreasing pollutant emissions, and improving the indoor environmental quality for the occupants. Active retrofit strategies are related to building systems and renewable energy sources, while passive strategies use natural resources more efficiently and generally at a lower cost. Methods and software can support the selection of the best retrofit strategies for each building. This paper compared and discussed the relevant results of the case studies, which comprised 72.9% of the papers selected for the integrative review. In all types of buildings and climates, the most discussed retrofit strategies were building envelope insulation, improving the climatisation and lighting systems, and using renewable energy sources – representing approximately 70% of the strategies. There was also a significant frequency of optimisation of natural lighting, natural ventilation, and ventilated façades in non-residential buildings or other types, mainly in semi-arid, temperate, and Mediterranean climates. Finally, recommendations for future studies were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Insights from hydronic heating systems in 259 commercial buildings. • Systems typically operate 81% of hours annually, far more frequently than expected. • Loads are very low relative to equipment capacity, causing inefficient operation. • Typical condensing boilers spend few hours at low return temp., reducing efficiency. • Paper includes an open-source dataset of 216 buildings and associated code. This paper analyzes hydronic heating systems in 259 buildings across 56 US organizations. The dataset comprises 120,000,000 measurements taken by building automation systems from 2014 to 2024 and for a typical building contains measured supply and return water temperature, flow rate, output power, system state and outdoor temperature spanning 2.2 years (15-minute interval). Pump and boiler data are available for smaller subsets of buildings. Analysis shows that many assumptions about these systems do not align with real-world performance. Systems operate far more frequently than expected − 81% of hours annually for the median building. Loads are lower and more skewed than expected, and oversizing is common even accounting for redundancy requirements. Load distributions indicate that relatively small equipment could serve a surprisingly large percentage of annual loads. Notably, equipment sized to 30% of the maximum measured load could serve up 84% of the total heating energy consumption for the median building. Analysis of key parameters, such as supply water temperature, show that functional resets are rare and that manual overrides are common, often persisting for months or years. Return water temperatures and other data show that boilers operate less efficiently than expected. These findings offer valuable insights for operators, designers, owners, and policymakers, highlighting that substantial energy savings opportunities are commonplace and can be captured by modifying design and operation based on how these systems actually operate. The paper includes the code used for analysis and visualization as well as an open-source dataset of 216 buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-efficiency retrofits (EER) are increasingly becoming a key tool for sustainable building development. Compared to extensive urban renewal, refined building energy retrofits hold more practical value. Of this, the complexities arising from the differences in the claims of multiple stakeholders deserve our attention. However, limited efforts have been made in the existing literature to explore this issue. This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model for residential EER from the perspective of engineering management. Taking a typical building in an old neighborhood in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province as an example, the theoretical model is validated. The results indicate that participants in the residential EER market display varying decision-making behaviors at different developmental stages. The government's implementation of appropriate punitive measures in the early stages will encourage enterprises to participate in EER. Simultaneously, attention should also be paid to the demands of residents to ensure the smooth progress. Market-based renovation models should be actively promoted, and specific renovation programs should be created to accommodate varying requirements. This paper offers theoretical guidance for decision-making and developing residential EER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A comprehensive review of GSHPs for cold climate applications is presented. • A systematic methodology to classify and evaluate various ground heat exchanger designs. • Critical analysis of GSHP performance improvement using solar thermal energy and thermal storage systems. • Review of control and optimization strategies for heat pumps in cold climates. Increasing concerns over anthropogenically-induced climate change are driving the search for alternative, renewable, clean technology to generate energy. Heat pumps are an efficient means of transitioning towards renewable energy sources for space heating, space cooling, and water heating in buildings. The common types of heat pumps are air source heat pumps, which use the ambient air as the energy source and sink, and ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), which use the more stable ground temperatures as the source and sink. In cold climates, the performance of both systems may be compromised, demanding careful design, optimization, and enhancement. GSHPs have the most excellent potential in cold climates where heating loads are significantly higher than cooling loads owing to their use of the more stable ground temperatures. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of GSHP systems for cold climates, beginning by first introducing the GSHP technology, including a summary of geothermal system classifications and a review of global GSHP systems and their applications. This is followed by an overview of closed-loop systems, including different configurations of ground heat exchangers, and a look at recent innovations in the design of GSHPs. Moreover, studies on the design and performance improvements of open-loop systems are discussed. As a means of improving system performance in cold climates, this paper presents a review of hybrid systems developed by several researchers. Additionally, insights on using GSHP systems for district heating and incorporating thermal storage systems to improve overall system performance are examined. Finally, the control and optimization strategies, as well as economic feasibility and environmental impacts, are reviewed. This study shows the potential to reduce thermal interference radius, thermal imbalance and the length of the heat exchanger when using GSHP systems with latent thermal storage systems and solar recharging. Nonetheless, a need remains for more robust and accurate dynamic prediction models for hybrid heating systems with GSHPs to assess long-term performance and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design, manufacturing, installation and monitoring of a BIPV system that consists of coloured 3D structured façade elements, mounted on an existing office building at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. The façade elements contain thin film CIGS modules, which adopt the curved structure of the elements. The encapsulation of the PV modules into the façade elements, the colouration and the curvature led to a relative loss of about 10 % of the efficiency. The PV façade consists of 48 elements with a STC capacity of 5.8 kWp. Each element was equipped with a power optimizer, enabling individual monitoring of each façade element. The elements have been installed at the east and south façade of the building. The monitoring presented in this paper comprised a period of 5 months: the summer and autumn of 2023. The DC performance ratio during that period was 75 % for the elements on the East façade and 80 % for the elements on the South façade; which is in accordance with simplified model predictions. The result is a visual attractive retrofitted PV façade contributing to zero emission strategy of the Eindhoven High Tech Campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SNA applied to research on factors affecting the promotion of prefabricated housing. • Offers a holistic view of the prefabricated housing market. • 5 factors are the most crucial factors in the relationship network. The development of prefabricated construction in China started relatively late, and the high cost of prefabricated housing has resulted in generally low enthusiasm among stakeholders in the market. Compared to other developed countries, the market penetration rate of prefabricated housing in China is relatively low. The current trajectory of prefabricated housing development in China is primarily influenced by the initiatives and support from key market stakeholders, underscoring the need for a concerted effort to enhance the sector's growth and sustainability. Existing research on the influencing factors of prefabricated housing promotion mainly focuses on macro perspectives, such as the market, economy, technology, and policies. However, there is a lack of scholarly studies that specifically examine the promotion factors from the stakeholders' perspective. However, there is a notable scarcity of scholarly work that delves into the promotion of prefabricated housing from the vantage point of the stakeholders involved. This paper defines the core stakeholders in the prefabricated housing market, including the government, developers, design units, supply units, construction units, and consumers, based on literature research, project surveys, and expert interviews. Furthermore, a preliminary list of 20 factors that influence the adoption of prefabricated housing by stakeholders has been determined. Using social network analysis, the study identifies 17 key influencing factors, interaction relationships, and influence paths for promoting prefabricated housing. Based on these key influencing factors, the study proposes promotion measures from the perspectives of the government, developers, and collaborating enterprises. The study's results reveal 17 key influencing factors, interaction relationships, and influence paths for the promotion of prefabricated housing. Among these factors, developer willingness, developer investment costs, industry chain completeness, developer strategic goals, and competitive pressures on participating units are identified as the most critical factors within the network of relationships. The research findings of this paper aim to provide theoretical support for promoting prefabricated housing from the perspective of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy modelling of high-density controlled environment agriculture (CEA-HD) spaces using a building performance simulation (BPS) tool and a crop energy balance model is emerging as a method to conduct load calculation and energy analysis. However, the modelling hypotheses used in BPS tools have yet to be tailored for CEA-HD spaces and might not be suitable for this specific application. This paper investigates the convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) algorithms for inside surfaces included in EnergyPlus to examine their applicability to CEA-HD spaces. The influence of these inside surfaces CHTC algorithms on relevant variables are quantified, with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computed CHTCs as a reference. The results revealed that certain algorithms (Simple, TARP, and ASTMC1340) are ill-suited to model CEA-HD production spaces compared to CFD-computed reference values. Furthermore, due to the modelled flow rate, the Adaptive Convection algorithm resulted in an aberrant value for the ceiling CHTC. This paper highlights the importance of exercising caution when using BPS tools for energy modelling of CEA-HD spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the ventilation flow patterns and density stratification in two parallel-connected chambers which respectively have a mechanical extractor and a localized buoyancy source. Two parallel-connected chambers are denoted as the forced and extracted chambers. The forced chamber having a continuous localized buoyancy source is located upstream, and the extracted chamber having a mechanical extractor is located downstream. Two chambers are interconnected by an internal connection opening and are connected to the exterior in a parallel manner through their own connection openings. The effects of the adjoining chamber having a mechanical extractor on the ventilation flow patterns and density stratification in the space are investigated in this study. The flow driving forces include the buoyant and inertial forces in this ventilated space. The buoyant force results from the buoyancy source, and the inertial force is due to the mechanical extractor. This research uses the theoretical analysis approach and the laboratory reduced-scale model to investigate this problem. This paper focuses on the ventilation flow patterns in the steady state and discusses different flow regimes due to the adjoining extracted chamber effect. The internal connection opening level and orientation between two chambers are discussed in this study. Three flow regimes, the small (or reduced), transition, and large (or enhanced) flow regimes, are found in two parallel-connected chambers and there is a range of critical flow rates to determine the flow regime when the internal connection opening is located in a partition wall as investigated in this research. If the internal connection opening is located in a horizontal ceiling, a clear-cut critical flow rate is expected and only two flow regimes exist. This study discusses the characteristics of different flow regimes in the space of two parallel-connected chambers. The paper presents three derived theoretical models and analogous salt-bath experimental results for three flow regimes, and comparisons between them show reasonable agreement. • This research studies the distribution of buoyant fluid or related pollutants in an indoor space with partitioned rooms. • The paper presents three derived theoretical models and analogous salt-bath experimental results for three flow regimes. • There is a transition flow regime if the internal connection opening is located in a vertical divider. • If the internal connection opening is located in a horizontal ceiling, only two flow regimes exist. • This study shows different flow patterns inside the interior space of two parallel-connected chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Review research trends and examines environmental performance issues related to social housing. • The findings indicate the main issues related to the environmental performance of social housing. • The content analysis identifies the co-occurrence of these identified issues and the frequency of the co-occurrence. • Examines the trends in terms of the focus areas and design/operation factors investigated by country of origin. Social housing is essential in addressing the housing needs of vulnerable people. However, there are environmental performance-related issues to consider with respect to social housing, and limited effort has been directed toward consolidating environmental performance outcomes to inform social housing design. In this context, the research presented in this paper aims to review research trends in this domain and examines environmental performance issues and opportunities related to social housing. A mixed method systematic review, including bibliometric and content analysis, is employed to uncover the critical environmental performance patterns and associated design factors for social housing. A total of 230 articles were selected for bibliometric analysis to identify the key issues related to the environmental performance of social housing. Among them, 83 highly focused articles are selected for content analysis, exploring the detailed issues and design factors related to the environmental performance of social housing. The research findings indicate that indoor air quality, thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and affordability are the main issues related to the environmental performance of social housing. The content analysis also identifies the co-occurrence of these identified issues and the frequency of the co-occurrence. Furthermore, this paper examines the trends in terms of the focus areas and design/operation factors investigated by country of origin and reveals that: (1) North America and Europe contributed a substantial share of their research on indoor air quality. (2) Thermal comfort merged as the predominant focus consistently studied in conjunction with energy efficiency across various regions. In addition, the key design and operation factors associated with these issues are identified. This paper provides novel insights into the environmental performance of social housing and associated design and operation factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a Bayesian inverse modelling framework for the in-situ characterisation of walls' thermal performance in the presence of thermal anomalies subject to uncertainty. For any given wall, the proposed framework uses in-situ contact measurements of temperature and heat flux in order to approximate the (posterior) distribution of a set of parameters which are inputs of a 3D heat transfer model of the wall that accounts for the presence of unknown anomalies. The set of inputs that we infer include (i) the geometry of the thermal anomaly as well was its material properties, (ii) the as-built thermophysical properties of the clear part (i.e. without anomaly) of the wall (iii) surface resistances and (iv) modelling errors that arise from unaccounted sources of uncertainty in the boundary conditions. The geometry of the unknown thermal anomaly is parameterised with a level-set function that is inferred within the proposed Bayesian approach. In order to incorporate prior statistical information of the thermal anomaly, a Gaussian process conditioned on measurements from thermal images is employed to build a prior on the level-set function. The posterior distribution of inferred inputs is approximated via the implementation of an Ensemble Kalman Inversion algorithm that provides stable and accurate approximations of the posterior. This paper also proposes a methodology that uses the inferred 3D model to derive a thermally equivalent 1D model of the wall that is suitable for its integration with existing building energy performance software. The proposed inverse modelling technique is experimentally validated by characterising the thermal performance of an insulation panel in the presence of a thermal anomaly. Our computations show that the proposed approach produces a 3D model that accurately describes thermal performance, and a derived equivalent 1D model that effectively reproduces the dynamic thermal performance of the insulation panel in the presence of the thermal anomaly. • A Bayesian inverse method is developed for the in-situ 3D characterisation of walls. • The method accounts for the presence of unknown thermal anomalies within the wall. • Thermal imaging is used to incorporate prior information of thermal anomalies. • The inferred 3D model is used to derive a 1D equivalent dynamic model of the wall. • We use the method to predict the performance of an insulation panel with an anomaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective ventilation systems are crucial for preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases in hospitals for both normal and epidemic (HFNE) treatments. Pressure differences between rooms are used to ensure that air flows from clean spaces into contaminated areas only. This paper established a pressure difference control simulation model and investigated China's HFNE facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed model was developed using Simulink software and validated against a multizone model developed by CONTAM software. The Simulink model helped identify aspects of room and ventilation design requiring particular focus. The factors influencing pressure difference control in HFNEs were analyzed using a hybrid control strategy. A fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative controller was used for control optimization under the influence of opening and closing doors and other dynamic disturbances. The pressure difference control system established in this paper exhibits superior performance and provides a reference for the design and construction of HFNEs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiatives aimed at retrofitting the existing buildings stock and constructing Zero Carbon Community (ZCC) have been recognized as highly effective measures for reaching the zero emission carbon goals set by the EU Commission by 2050. The Building Energy Modeling approach focuses only on typical individual building and it is hardly suitable for assessing the performance and the mutual interaction of a group of interconnected buildings In this case the application of Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) is required. Research on UBEM constitutes the foundation for reducing the energy needs of the built environment; however, there is currently a lack of knowledge on UBEM concept, workflow and related simulation tools. This paper has twofold objectives; first presents an in-depth bibliometric analysis, through CiteSpace, to analyze the developmental trajectory of emerging simulation UBEM method. The analysis encompasses the distribution of authors collaborations, geographic and institutional cooperation in publications and research hotspots. Based on this, the paper summarizes the development trends and potential directions for research in the UBEM field. Furthermore, as a second objective, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the main UBEM tools with focus on the input and output data, simulation engine and data workflow. The final scope of this study is to offer to urban planners and policymakers a comprehensive framework as a starting point for approaching zero-carbon communities' from both the concepts and the simulations analysis point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Power drop values for horizontal PV panel were in the interval 7.2–87.2%. • Power drop values for optimal PV panel were in the interval 7.2–30.6%. • Fly ash caused PV power drop was greater in periods with no precipitation. • For 1 day without rain, the additional power drop of horizontal panel was 0.4–10 %. • For 1 day without rain, the additional power drop of optimal panel was 0.2–9.1 %. Fossil fuels are mostly utilized for heat generation in Serbia throughout the heating season in the built environment which usually lasts 6 months every year, thus fly ash often accumulates on photovoltaic (PV) panels decreasing their performance. This paper analyzes results of the outdoor experiment conducted at the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics in Niš investigating the influence of deposited fly ash on power (P) drop for horizontally and optimally inclined PV panels during three heating seasons in the City of Niš. Innovations of the paper are reflected in concrete data of P drop for short time periods in real outdoor environment, additionally connected with precipitation values which represent natural way of panels cleaning, that are all together not frequent in available literature especially for continental climate regions. The experiment showed that for only one day without precipitation, the P drop for the horizontal panel rose by an extra 0.4–10 %, and 0.2–9.1 % for the optimal panel. Experimentally measured data in this paper are of high importance not only for showing the P loss of PV panels in soiling conditions and the necessity of periodical cleaning, but also for their utilization in urban PV plants design and further simulations and calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Temperature is the main factor causing the cooling and heating load on residential buildings. • Radiation, humidity, & wind are secondary factors causing residential cooling & heating loads. • K-means algorithm effectively clusters the comprehensive climate-energy dataset. • Climate impacts vary by cluster, tailored energy management needed. Limited comprehensive methods exist for studying spatial energy consumption distribution, integrating statistical and energy data. This paper introduces a novel approach for analyzing residential heating and cooling energy demand distribution. It employs clustering algorithms to study climate variables' impact on energy demand distribution and assesses building energy demand intensity regionally, taking China as a case study. Initially compiling a dataset comprising climate characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and energy demand through data collection and simulation, the study compares clustering algorithms, highlighting the effectiveness of K-means in clustering high-dimensional climate-energy datasets. K-means analysis reveals temperature-based daily methods significantly affect building energy intensity, alongside factors like radiation intensity and humidity impacting regional energy demand variably. Additionally, climate's influence on residential building energy consumption intensity varies regionally, with total energy demand influenced by population and economic factors. This paper offers insights for energy management and policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The influences of air temperature step changes were concluded and analyzed. • The variations in airflow and human metabolic rate related to thermal comfort were studied. • A framework of thermal adaptation stages at different time scales was proposed. • The models suitable for dynamic thermal comfort evaluation were discussed. • The underlying mechanism of thermal pleasure and alliesthesia was explored. Dynamic thermal comfort refers to the environmental condition with non-constant parameters, which has attracted more concerns compared with steady-state thermal comfort because of its benefits on human satisfaction, energy efficiency, and body health. This study reviewed over 100 relevant papers in this field to gain a comprehensive understanding of dynamic thermal comfort. Firstly, the dynamics of environmental parameters were analyzed mainly from two aspects, changes in air temperature and variations of airflow. All conditions of air temperature step change were concluded, and the comparison of dynamic airflow was from air velocity, wind volume, air speed, wind direction, pulsation frequency, and turbulence. Then, changes of metabolic rate were discussed as the typical human-related factor which influences the variation of thermal comfort significantly in reality. After that, the thermal history and thermal adaptation involved in dynamic scenarios were further analyzed. A classification method based on different time scales was proposed to illustrate the development of thermal adaptation. Also, the models for dynamic thermal comfort and the concept of thermal alliesthesia were discussed. It proved that the rational dynamic strategy could effectively enhance human thermal perception and be beneficial to energy conservation of air conditioner, and the subjective changes of human activity and behaviors also had great influences which could not be neglected. This paper could provide a reference for systematically understanding dynamic thermal comfort through its theory, models, and application, and also help in understanding the mechanism of thermal adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multi-method approach analyses the impact of behavioural change on gas consumption. • Energy savings potentials derived from modelling and survey results are compared. • The impact of the gas crisis and energy prices on energy saving measures is examined. • The studied behavioural changes lead to a 2.0–3.5% reduction in gas demand. • A tailored policy package is recommended to promote changes in heating behaviour. The geopolitical situation and the energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine have led to proposals for immediate reduction in energy consumption within the European Union (EU). The REPowerEU Plan of the European Commission proposes behavioural changes as short-term measures to rapidly reduce the EU's dependence on Russian gas and oil. This paper investigates the energy saving potential resulting from changes in household heating behaviour. Through a comparison of modelling results with results of the analysis of empirical data collected in a survey of households in four EU Member States (Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Poland), the paper examines the adequacy of the short-term measures proposed by the EU and the instruments needed to leverage such measures and increase their potential impact. Although the reported changes in heating behaviour lead to a 2.0 % to 3.5 % reduction in residential gas demand in the countries studied, the study recognises that the EU targets for reducing the gas demand will not be met under current regulatory conditions, and considers the energy savings observed in this paper and in the literature as a short-term response to unexpected circumstances. The paper proposes a policy package to transform these responses into the long-term behavioural changes needed to achieve climate targets. Promoting uptake of household technical infrastructure, providing financial support and implementing information campaigns are suggested as effective approaches to achieving savings targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive energy districts and sustainable plus energy neighbourhoods are developed in the European context to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. The planning and development of positive energy districts and sustainable plus energy neighbourhoods is complex and requires collaboration between stakeholders and new measures to achieve high energy efficiency, local renewable energy generation, energy storage and flexibility, and energy sufficiency. This paper examines the implementation of energy measures in the planning and design of four positive energy district and neighbourhood development projects in Norway and Sweden. The paper compares the two different institutional and energy system contexts and how these affect the development of positive energy districts, focusing on the perspectives of the municipality and developers. Existing academic literature and positive energy district guidelines are used to develop an analytical framework for the planning and design of positive energy districts and sustainable plus energy neighbourhoods. Results highlight an early focus on energy ambitions, wide stakeholder involvement, and the importance of aligning interests between stakeholders and working interdisciplinary in the planning and design phases to find optimal energy measures. Both the building and the neighbourhood/district level are important to increase energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, and energy flexibility, and consequently lower the environmental impact of the whole development project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ireland, residential energy policy has been influenced by thermal inefficiency, high electricity prices and energy poverty. These factors have driven the fabric-first approach, where buildings must undergo extensive thermal retrofitting to qualify for heat pump subsidies. The cost-effectiveness of this approach has not been properly scrutinised to date. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the cost-effectiveness of the fabric-first approach and other decarbonisation strategies for the residential sector and broader energy system. The study develops scenarios by modifying the Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) threshold, which evaluates the fabric and ventilation heat loss per unit of floor area and is used to determine heat pump subsidy eligibility. The paper also considers scenarios that permit installing sub-optimal performing heat pumps that do not achieve peak performance levels in dwellings with higher HLIs. The analysis uses the TIMES-Ireland Model (TIM), a model of the whole energy system that reflects the interdependence of mitigation pathways across different energy sectors. Our study shows that Ireland's fabric-first approach requires 22 times more thermal retrofits to meet climate targets than alternative pathways. The alternative pathways based on the latest heat pump performance data are more cost-effective, showing that higher heat pump HLI thresholds can reduce the average sectoral marginal CO 2 emission price by 60% compared to the current fabric-first approach. The cost savings indicate that shifting to an HLI threshold of 2.3 W/K/m2 is close to optimal, while cost savings are minimal when moving from an HLI of 2.3 to 3 W/K/m2. Furthermore, electricity prices and household awareness are essential to the cost-optimal transition to residential heat pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose IVMD-WOA-LSSVM cooling load prediction method. • Using VMD to extract Subsequence with different data characteristics from original load data. • The WOA algorithm adopted in this paper has faster convergence speed, can effectively avoid falling into local extreme value, and achieve the optimal effect. The global environment faces major challenges due to the widespread use of air conditioning systems, and accurate and effective cooling load forecast is a vital component of energy conservation and improving the system's operational efficiency. This paper presents a method for predicting the cooling load of air conditioning using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and an enhanced least square support vector machines(LSSVM). The whale optimization algorithm (WOA) was employed to determine the ideal modal decomposition count and penalty factor combination. After optimizing the parameters, the VMD algorithm was employed to decompose the initial cooling load sequence. The redundant information between input variables is eliminated by random forest (RF) algorithm to reduce the model dimension. In the end, the LSSVM model, which has been optimized using WOA, is employed for predicting each component. The final results of cooling load prediction are obtained through reconstruction and superposition. The results of the simulation demonstrate the efficacy and viability of the suggested approach. The root mean square error of the coefficient of variation is 0.0344, which indicates that the proposed model has good robustness. The R2 reaches 0.9901, which indicating that the model has good prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly-Zero-Energy and Zero-Emission Buildings are one fundamental part of the world strategies addressed at mitigating the global warming trend and coping with the goal of setting 1.5 °C the planet temperature increase with respect to the pre-industrial conditions. The present paper refers to a specific case study, the Smart Energy Building (SEB) located in the Savona Campus of the University of Genoa. The SEB is a very innovative building for both the envelope (ventilated highly insulated facades) and the energy systems (including a ground coupled heat pump and an exhaust air-to-air heat pump for building ventilation); the building is equipped also with a PV module field on the rooftop for electricity production. The present paper first evaluates the heating and cooling loads of the building by means of an EnergyPlus model and analyses the impact of different control strategies related to the temperature setpoints. In particular, case #1 refers to a minimum temperature to be assured by heating only in winter and to a maximum one to be avoided by cooling only during summer; on the other hand, in case #2 the temperature inside the building is controlled within a defined range (both heating and cooling modes) all year long. From EnergyPlus simulations, the hourly heat loads have been averaged as monthly values and employed for the calculation of the required overall length of the ground heat exchangers of the geothermal heat pump of the SEB building. The ground-side analysis is performed by applying the Authors' ASHRAE- T p8 method, in its recently released web version. For the BHE (borehole heat exchanger) calculations, a parametric analysis has been performed in terms of ground thermal conductivities. Finally, the PV electrical production has been estimated by EnergyPlus simulations and compared with the corresponding measured one, thus showing the net energy zero behaviour of the present building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Perovskite solar cells (PSC) have been developed to be scalable for buildings. • Experiments found that PSC windows can decrease indoor air temperature by 1.4 °C. • PSC windows can reduce the probability of glare by 24.7–45.7 %. • Building energy consumption has been declined by 26.6 %–59.6 % with the PSC windows. • The investigation of this paper promotes the application of the PSC windows. Semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) windows have received much attention from scholars due to their remarkable power generation capacity and thermal insulation performance. However, considering the complexity of their fabrication process, and the significant decrease in power generation efficiency when scaling up to large-sized solar modules. To solve the above problems, this study developed a scalable production technological process to prepare translucent PSC modules, in which large-area chalcogenide thin films were prepared by a scratch-coating method. The prepared PSC module has an average visible light transmittance of 20.1 % and shows a maximum power conversion efficiency of 3.92 %. Experimental tests were conducted to investigate its photo-thermal regulation performance concerning the existing common window. The results show that the newly developed photovoltaic window reduces the indoor air temperature by 1.4 °C while the illuminance is reduced by about 59.2 % compared to the common window. A further simulation is performed by Energyplus, with a conclusion that PSC windows can decrease glare probability by 24.7 %–45.7 %, diminish building energy usage by 26.6 %–59.6 %, and achieve up to 469.9 kWh power generation in Harbin, China. The investigation of this paper paves the technical and foundational way for the large-scale application of PSC in building sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Operation of water heater for simultaneous heating and hot water supply was studied. • Verification of TRNSYS mathematical model Type158 for gas condensing water heater. • Newly configured model deviations for DHW characteristics are from −2.3 % to + 0.80 % • Model for combined space heating and simultaneous hot water supply was developed. • Parametric study of water heaters operation for different types of buildings. This article presents novel insights into direct-fired water heaters with a storage tank, making a significant contribution to the scientific community. The paper has two main objectives. Firstly, it examines the possibility of reconfiguring the standard mathematical model Type 158, originally designed for indirect heated storage tanks in the TRNSYS database, for use with direct heated storage tanks. The study demonstrates that the reconfigured Type 158 model produces deviations in water temperature during charging, ranging from −2.3 % to + 0.80 % compared to the manufacturer's technical specifications. A detailed procedure for reconfiguring this model is provided, filling a gap in existing literature. Secondly, the paper uses the reconfigured model to analyse the usage of direct water heaters for dual purposes: space heating and hot water supply. System simulations in three realistic installation scenarios—single-family house, hand car wash, and apartment building—validate the findings. The first scenario evaluates the heater at very low load, the second assesses its performance with low space heating and high hot water demand, and the third highlights potential shortcomings in buildings with high space heating and hot water demand. These simulations provide valuable data on the heater's ability to meet energy supply needs in different contexts, demonstrating its practicality and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Review of co-optimization of structural and environmental building performance. • Review of the tools and workflows used to perform Multi Objective Optimization of relevant variables. • Existing studies focus on operational energy and building structural shape and sizing. • Limited number of articles on this topic suggests future work is necessary. Building performance optimization has been developed and frequently deployed in building design over recent years. However, the division of disciplines in architecture results in optimization processes performed for a singular function either structurally or environmentally, rather than a holistic optimization process for both. With the increasing urgency to mitigate climate change in a world of finite resources through reducing both embodied and operational energy expenditures, researchers have recently begun to embed multi-functional objectives into the design and engineering process. To assist designers in assessing the full spectrum of design options, multi-objective design explorations (MODE), such as multi-objective optimization (MOO), multidisciplinary optimization (MDO), and computational design exploration (CDE), have demonstrated the potential to explore building performance-driven design space while maintaining design freedom, particularly in the early design stage. This paper presents a review of research on the potential for an integrated structural-environmental MODE workflow. The review examines the design and optimization topic domain, variable selection and software used during design space formation in existing literature, and subsequently seeks to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities in uniting the two disciplines. A survey of scientific journal articles reveals an ongoing relationship between structural design and operational energy, solar control and daylighting, and acoustic design, while structural design and thermal mass is an emerging research direction. Part two of the paper reviews precursor demonstrator and built case-study projects with an integrated structural-environmental approach in order to deduce potential design variables for future multi-objective design exploration workflows. Areas of future research on an integrated structural-environmental design are outlined and associated design variables are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carbon neutrality feasibility of buildings was reviewed. • Carbon neutrality of buildings is feasible, but complexity varies. • Multi-building carbon neutrality case studies are limited. • Climate type affects neutrality; high-rise research is deficient. • Long-term lifecycle impacts of carbon measures remain unclear. Achieving carbon–neutral building stock by 2050 contributes to coping with the detrimental impacts of global warming since buildings account for almost 37% of final energy-related CO 2 emissions. This paper reviews the publications on carbon neutrality (CN) feasibility at both single and multi-building complex scales. Publications are retrieved from the Scopus database, and the snowball method is used to find the most relevant studies. The paper addresses the primary question: "Is it possible to reach the life cycle carbon neutrality of buildings?". Various information such as building life cycle carbon assessment, building characteristics (usage type and number of stories), climate type, mitigation measures, and simulation results are extracted, classified, and analyzed. Technically, reaching CN is feasible, but it is challenging given the need to implement multiple mitigation measures simultaneously, especially in the regions with low emissions intensity of the electricity grid, and may not always be economically feasible. A lack of successful case studies for large multi-building complexes, such as cities, is evident in the literature. It can be attributed to the limited availability of input data for carbon assessments as well as the complexity of simulations. Knowledge gaps in the literature and suggestions for future works are also discussed in detail. Due to the small number of studies on the topic, conclusive paths to reach the CN of buildings, specific to different climates and types of buildings, remain unclear, and thus, further research is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Self-shading in facade components is less studied compared to building form. • Solar radiation remains the predominant performance indicator in the studies. • Coupling Finite Element Method could improve building energy simulation results. • SPEA-2 is the most commonly used genetic algorithm in self-shading studies. • Opaque materials, such as metallic solids, are less studied in self-shading. Self-shading in facades can serve as a strategy to reduce heat gain and improve the energy efficiency of building envelopes. It leverages the form of the building envelope or its components to provide partial protection against solar radiation. Although self-shading strategies have been studied in various contexts, there still exists a lack of a comprehensive review of the current state of research in this field. This study addresses this gap by conducting a review of the literature related to self-shading facades. The scoping process included a total of 234 papers, out of which 38 relevant papers were selected for the review. These are discussed under the topics of self-shading morphology, materials, research methodology, climate and orientations, as well as performance indicators. The findings of the literature review show that self-shading façades reduce heat gain through various self-shading aspects, including morphology, shaded surface area, and construction materials. Opportunities for further exploration and improvement remain, particularly for self-shading of opaque building components. While there have been several studies on self-shading brick wall configuration, other common materials used in the building industry such as steel have received limited attention in research to date. Furthermore, there is still little consensus on best-performing angles, forms and orientations of self-shading facades, making it difficult to identify preferable shapes and orientations that can be applied in practice. This literature review also demonstrates the need for further advancements in simulation tools and more comprehensive methodologies to examine self-shading strategies. Addressing these gaps is crucial to improve building performance through self-shading in order to advance practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Innovative interpretable machine learning framework for machine learning control. • Shapley values and large language models are combined for improved interpretability. • Case study demonstrates interpretable control processes in demand response events. • Bridging trust gap in machine learning control usage for building energy management. The potential of Machine Learning Control (MLC) in HVAC systems is hindered by its opaque nature and inference mechanisms, which is challenging for users and modelers to fully comprehend, ultimately leading to a lack of trust in MLC-based decision-making. To address this challenge, this paper investigates and explores Interpretable Machine Learning (IML), a branch of Machine Learning (ML) that enhances transparency and understanding of models and their inferences, to improve the credibility of MLC and its industrial application in HVAC systems. Specifically, we developed an innovative framework that combines the principles of Shapley values and the in-context learning feature of Large Language Models (LLMs). While the Shapley values are instrumental in dissecting the contributions of various features in ML models, LLM provides an in-depth understanding of the non-data-driven or rule-based elements in MLC; combining them, LLM further packages these insights into a coherent, human-understandable narrative. The paper presents a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of the developed IML framework for model predictive control-based precooling under demand response events in a virtual testbed. The results indicate that the developed framework generates and explains the control signals in accordance with the rule-based rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Utilizes EnergyPlus software to calibrate an energy simulation model for hospital in India. • Calibration parameters are systematically identified and adjusted through an iterative process. • The study highlights the need for a nuanced approach in modeling healthcare facilities. • Findings aim to foster sustainable hospital infrastructure in warm-humid climates. This research paper addresses the calibration of an energy simulation model for a naturally ventilated hospital building located in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, in a warm, humid climatic zone. The study aims to enhance the accuracy of energy consumption calculations through a calibration process by developing the energy model of a reference hospital building using EnergyPlus software. The required architectural design data, construction details, occupancy and schedule data and services are collected through documents, energy audits and documentation, measured drawings, and semi-structured interviews. Calibration parameters are systematically identified and adjusted through an iterative process. The monthly electricity bill is used to validate the simulation model. The simulation model reached during the validation process has an excellent Coefficient of Variation-Root Mean Squared Error of 4.24% and a Normalized Mean Bias Error of −4.42%, both of which meet the ASHRAE-approved accuracy standards. The paper also discusses the challenges and emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to modeling healthcare facilities. Notwithstanding the challenges faced, the study offers insightful information about how to calibrate simulation models for hospital energy usage with the significant influence of scheduling for artificial lighting and equipment usage. By pioneering a manual calibration approach tailored to hospital simulation models in the warm humid climate of India, this paper offers a novel and practical solution to address the challenges of energy performance analysis in resource-constrained environments. The calibrated simulation model presented in this study is a valuable tool for assessing and improving the energy performance of naturally ventilated healthcare facilities. By creating alternative space layouts, the research findings aim to foster the development of hospital infrastructure that is both ecologically friendly and energy-efficient in a specific climatic context. This research is assured to make a substantial contribution to the advancement of sustainable hospital design in warm-humid climates, with implications for both academia and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of the occupancy in buildings is essential to design efficient energy control strategies that optimize consumption and reduce losses while guaranteeing the comfort of the occupants. For this reason, many works address the problem of detecting, estimating, and predicting buildings' occupancy using different techniques, devices, and technologies. The occupancy prediction process can be described in four stages: data acquisition, modeling, evaluation, and testing, which are closely related. This paper reviews the most relevant recent literature on building occupancy estimation and prediction, analyzing the key aspects of its stages. A detailed description of the variables and design considerations is presented, including measurement methods, sensor selection, modeling techniques, evaluation metrics, and different applications. Through its examination, this paper elaborates significant remarks on the interaction between the stages, providing an overview of the suitable design of the occupancy prediction process. Finally, current and future trends are discussed. • A systematic review of the occupancy estimation and prediction process is presented. • Data acquisition, modeling, evaluation, and testing are the four general stages. • The importance of sensor fusion in overcoming individual limitations is presented. • Occupancy detection methods include deterministic, stochastic, and machine learning. • Some potential future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method for estimating CO 2 generation rate by age is proposed. • Identified the trends and age segment points in CO 2 generation rates from ages 5 to 70. • Described the individual differences in CO 2 generation rates using body surface area. • Metabolic rate is the primary factor causing errors in CO 2 generation rate estimation. • ASTM D6245-18′s method requires higher metabolic rate input as compensation. In most applications of indoor CO 2 , such as building ventilation rate estimation and demand-controlled ventilation, the CO 2 generation rate of building occupants is a crucial parameter. Currently, ASTM D6245-18 provides an estimation formula for the CO 2 generation rate, but there are indications that its results tend to be underestimated. This paper utilized more than 7,200 sets of CO 2 generation rate data from over 1100 participants aged 5 to 70 to propose a segmented regression model for estimating CO 2 generation rates based on gender, age, and activity metabolism as independent variables. Based on the patterns of CO 2 generation rate with age and metabolic rate, two critical age breakpoints were identified: 10/11 years for girls/boys entering puberty and 13/15 years for girls/boys entering the stable growth phase. The reliability of the established model was validated through literature-based data across various scenarios. The results revealed that using the activity intensity determined by the recommended metabolic rates in the ASHRAE Handbook, our estimations were closer to the experimental values compared to ASTM D6245-18, which required higher metabolic rates for compensation. The method in this paper requires only age, gender, and activity metabolic rate to estimate the mean CO 2 generation rate for different occupants, offering a simple calculation approach for key parameters in CO 2 applications within buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Classification of PVSD based on different ways of integration with building skins. • PVSD is mostly studied by using simulation methods. • Growing number of studies focuses on multi-objective optimization of PVSD. • Discussion of payback period provides a economic reference for the application. Existing studies indicate that as an important part of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) technology, photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs) have become one of the important means to achieve energy reduction and green architecture. However, there is little existing literature that has systematically reviewed PVSDs, and existing reviews only discussed PVSDs from the perspective of basic parameters and control systems. Little is known about what methods can be used to systematically evaluate PVSDs and how economically applicable PVSDs are to the market. This paper aims to review all the PVSD-related studies in the last ten years from the perspective of research methods and economic feasibility assisted by Citespace software to filter related studies. This review concluded four important findings: 1) 68 % of existing PVSD-related studies adopted the simulation method to assess PVSDs in the last ten years, followed by the studies that adopted simulation and experiment methods; 2) EnergyPlus is the most frequently used software to perform simulation; 3) For the studies that carried out multi-objective optimization of PVSDs, 64 % of studies evaluated PVSDs by coupling energy performance with visual comfort. It is followed by those that coupled thermal comfort (39 %); 4) The shortest economic payback period of PVSD products in the retrieved papers was only 1.5 years, and the longest can reach 20 years. In future research, multi-objective optimization will become the study focus, and more studies about the aesthetic integration of PVSDs should be considered. This review provides a methodological and economic reference for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current global energy landscape, energy storage has the potential to become a key technical support for global carbon neutrality. Drawing insights from a comprehensive overview of existing energy storage systems, this paper proposes a three-phase crystalline energy storage and heating system characterized by intermittent operation. The unique thermodynamic property of lithium bromide gifts the system with remarkable energy storage density and heating capacity. To further investigate its operating characteristics, this study employs the Newton iteration method, with energy storage density as a pivotal technical indicator for evaluation. The results reveal that the existence of crystals mainly benefits nighttime heating supply. By adjusting input factors, it becomes evident that increasing the temperature of high-temperature heat source can enhance the heating supply by 16.92 %, which also leads to an increase in energy storage density to 2986.85 MJ/m3. Furthermore, the raising temperature of low-temperature heat source results in a substantial 61.78 % escalation in heating supply. Additionally, the dynamic investment payback period of the system is estimated to be 2.4 years, signifying its economic viability. The findings of this paper can provide valuable theoretical support for the application of crystalline energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Aerogel sandwich construction building insulation offers higher energy savings ratio. • Functional silane modification reduces shrinkage of Z-direction from 57.5% to 2.3%. • Sandwich aerogel created super-efficient thermal insulation and sound absorption performances. • SA@UGFW demonstrates ultra-light, high-strength and efficient self-cleaning capability. In the context of "carbon neutrality and emission peak", aerogel that can meet national energy saving and emission reduction requirements while achieving efficient noise reduction has become a hot research topic. However, the development of multifunctional applications is greatly limited by the fact that pure aerogel usually exhibits relatively homogeneous properties. In this paper, SA@UGFW sandwich aerogel composites with functional silanes for structural strengthening were developed. SA@UGFW not only demonstrates ultra-lightweight (58 kg/m3) and high-strength properties (0.1 MPa) but also highly efficient self-cleaning capability (water contact angle ≈ 152.4°). The sandwich aerogel created super-efficient thermal insulation (0.015–0.017 W/(m·K)) and sound absorption performances (α max = 0.93, NRC = 0.51, 9.77 mm). SA@UGFW exhibited a cold surface temperature of 54.2 ℃ and a ΔT of 145.8 ℃ when the heat source temperature was 200 ℃, despite the sample thickness of only 9.77 mm. At this point, ΔT was higher than 70 % of the heat source temperature. The thermal conductivity of SA@UGFW was as low as 0.00975 W/(m·K), even in −40 ℃ environment. In addition, the sandwich aerogel also showed 0.0204 W/(m·K) of low thermal conductivity following ultra-low temperature (-196 ℃) treatment for 168 h. Simulation results show that aerogel building insulation reduces heating energy savings by 31.00 % and cooling energy savings by 27.34 % compared to traditional insulation. Therefore, the sandwich aerogel with multiple functions reported in this paper achieved the enhancement of indoor comfort and was expected to be widely applied in the construction field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hygrothermal white-box models in China are proposed for specific cases. • Accuracy depends on climate features and building components based on assumptions. • Separate driving potentials for vapour and liquid transfer are suggested. • Hygrothermal reference year, measured or derived indoor climate database are more suitable input parameters. Moisture damage plays a key role for the durability of buildings and for the health and comfort of occupants. Various numerical models were proposed for engineers and architects to evaluate the hygrothermal condition before constructing in China. Although the physical discipline is universal, the complexity and variety of climates and building components make the moisture-related problems as well as the development and application of hygrothermal models distinctive in China. This paper is a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art in China to promote future advancement and academic communication between China and abroad. It investigated hygrothermal white-box models in China including modeling and input parameters. The paper presents that the assumptions of available models limit the application of hygrothermal white-box models in some situations. It also shows that there is a shortage of suitable indoor and outdoor climate databases. To sum up, the following items are necessary to establish hygrothermal simulation in building practice: models working with separate driving potentials for liquid and vapour transport; hygrothermal reference years as outdoor climate data; indoor climate data, either measured occupants' behavior or derived from building operation setpoints influenced by outdoor climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]