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Industrial Kitchens are very energy-intensive businesses, consuming between five and seven times more energy per square meter than other commercial spaces like office spaces and retail stores. Still, very little research has been carried out on improving the energy efficiency of this industry. This paper presents the FIKElectricity dataset, a collection of electricity data from three Portuguese restaurant kitchens during their daily operation. The duration of the datasets spans three to four weeks in each industrial kitchen and comprises aggregated and individual appliance consumption, collected at 1 Hz and 1 5 Hz, respectively. The public release of FIKElectricity is expected to draw more attention from the research community to this overlooked industrial sector. The data collection and post-processing methods are thoroughly described in this paper, as well as the dataset organization. Examples showing the dataset's quality and instructions for its reuse are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the efficiency of energy use is of utmost importance in the context of climate change. Indeed, greater efficiency in the end-use of energy will make a significant contribution to lowering primary energy consumption and reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents an approach that enables a compact liquefied natural gas station to operate without being connected to the public electric grid. It is achieved by using the Boil-off gas generated by the vehicle supply process and feeding it to a generator which, together with a photovoltaic (PV) system, can produce electrical energy. Results from a year of trial operations at the station in Escariz, Portugal, demonstrate that it is possible to recover an average of 8.66 kg of Boil-off gas daily while generating a 345% excess of electrical energy when combined with the PV system, enabling the station to be self-sustainable in terms of electricity. Based on the experimental data and calculation methodology, the project was able to earn an estimated monthly revenue of €176.27 throughout the study period while also preventing the emission of 8549 kg of CO2 equivalent from natural gas combustion in vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of smart grids is becoming a common reality worldwide. This new reality is starting to impact energy customers as they face a dynamic grid in which they can actively participate. However, if energy customers are not prepared to participate actively, they can have their energy costs increased. This paper provides a review of acceptance models and customer surveys around the world made to assess the customers' perception and willingness to participate in smart grids. Contributing to this assessment, this paper presents a survey undertaken in Portugal. The survey results demonstrate a willingness, from the customer's end, to actively participate in smart grid initiatives. It was found that 92.9% of participants are willing to plan their energy usage to face hourly energy prices and that 95.0% of participants are willing to accept an external control of at least one appliance, enabling direct load control demand response programs. Also, the results identified two cognitive tendencies, negativity bias, and loss aversion, which can impact how customers participate in smart grids. These cognitive tendencies and the literature acceptance models demonstrate the importance of conducting social science studies targeting smart grids to fully achieve the efficient participation of end customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing many challenges to keep up with growing energy demand and greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. A possible solution is to integrate renewable energy sources (RESs) into residences and create energy management systems (EMSs) that reduce consumption and relieve the main grid in critical hours. This paper is focused on analyzing different EMSs using solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and three energy storage systems (ESSs) to increase savings without affecting the user's needs, with thirty-three power consumption profiles and three energy tariffs over a 25-year investment to compare which solution presents the best economic result in each of the 297 analyzed scenarios. The results show that the higher the overall daily consumption values, the greater the profits for all EMSs. The lowest demand profiles lead to the best self-consumption and self-sufficiency results. PV-only systems with a tri-hourly tariff have the best overall results. In the case of battery operation, each case should be carefully analyzed in order to choose the correct technologies and tariff. The results also allowed us to verify that even though having more PV modules generates more energy, it can make a project less economically desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Custom-built solutions for ageing, urban regeneration, energy efficiency, thermal performance, and well-being are contemporary challenges that have prompted considerable research over the past decades. In the construction field, subjects such as energy efficiency and thermal performance are often addressed within the scope of mandatory regulations, the suitability of construction solutions and the incorporation of technical equipment. Considering four residential structures for older adults under construction in Portugal, this paper aims to highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to these issues, including architectural quality as the main target. In pursuit of this, a cohesive set of intervention principles guided the analysis: the adaptive reuse of raw materials; taking advantage of the site's conditions; vegetation (type and location); construction options and durability; solar exposure and shading; the pedagogy of building use; and the comfort and thermal perception. Several reflections emerge from the analysis: good architectural design must consider dynamic models incorporating each context and the site's conditions; the culture of use and maintenance and the notion of "adaptive comfort" are primary factors to enhance thermal performance and energy efficiency; and each building is a unique result of a complex negotiation process. Bridging research through practice, and multidisciplinary scientific integration enable engagement with reality and raise awareness of the constraints and challenges to innovation in LTC design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a promising commodity, a renewable secondary energy source, and feedstock alike, to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets and promote economic decarbonization. A common goal pursued by many countries, the hydrogen economy receives a blending of public and private capital. After European Green Deal, state members created national policies focused on green hydrogen. This paper presents a study of energy transition considering green hydrogen production to identify Portugal's current state and prospects. The analysis uses energy generation data, hydrogen production aspects, CO 2 emissions indicators and based costs. A comprehensive simulation estimates the total production of green hydrogen related to the ratio of renewable generation in two different scenarios. Then a comparison between EGP goals and Portugal's transport and energy generation prospects is made. Portugal has an essential renewable energy matrix that supports green hydrogen production and allows for meeting European green hydrogen 2030–2050 goals. Results suggest that promoting the conversion of buses and trucks into H 2 -based fuel is better for CO 2 reduction. On the other hand, given energy security, thermoelectric plants fueled by H 2 are the best option. The aggressive scenario implies at least 5% more costs than the moderate scenario, considering economic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple energy surveys and audits were performed in 60 processing industries of meat, dairy, horticultural and bread and pastry products, located in the North, Center, and Alentejo regions of Portugal. The number of refrigeration chambers, building infrastructure, and energy consumptions of the equipment used in the manufacturing processes were evaluated. The energy consumption of different manufacturing processes of regional food products were compared. The study aims to present several measures and best practices for the improvement of energy efficiency of the food sector. The implementation of simple and very cost‐effective transversal electricity savings measures such as awareness and/or training of operators, proper maintenance, and monitoring tasks, can benefit this sector. The tailored energy efficiency measures by sector are discussed. These energy efficient practice measures can offer savings at several levels, increasing productivity and competitiveness and improving the environmental impact, and thus the global sustainability of the Portuguese food sector. Practical applications: The adoption of efficiency measures by SMEs provides them the necessary instruments to become more competitive and dynamic in the market, due to the reduction of the energy costs. This condition allows funds to be redirected to areas such as logistics, ensuring an expansion to international markets. This paper presents several measures of energy efficiency, many of which require small investments. The objective of this study is to provide a reference guide, with the purpose of qualifying SMEs for the adoption of strategies to increase their competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the temporal dependence in energy prices and demand using daily data of Portugal and Spain over the period 2007–2017. The methodology used is based on a stochastic Hidden Markov Model and the results indicate first that all significant relationships between energy prices and demands were found to be positive; second, spot prices are only time dependent on future prices and spot energy, while future energy is solely time dependent on spot energy behavior; third, future prices are not only autocorrelated but also time-dependent with spot energy and future energy demands level; and finally, spot energy is autocorrelated and time-dependent with future prices and future energy. Policy implications of the results obtained are presented at the end of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uncover a new perception of the dynamic interconnection between CO2 emission and economic growth, renewable energy use, trade openness, and technological innovation in the Portuguese economy utilizing innovative Morlet wavelet analysis. The research applied continuous wavelet transform, wavelet correlation, the multiple and partial wavelet coherence, and frequency domain causality analyses are applied on variables of investigation using dataset between 1980 and 2019. The result of these analyses disclosed that the interconnection among the indicators progresses over time and frequency. The present analysis finds notable wavelet coherence and significant lead and lag interconnections in the frequency domain, while conflicting relationships among the variables are found in the time domain. The wavelet analysis according to economic viewpoint affirms that renewable energy consumption helps to curb CO2 while trade openness, technological innovation, and economic growth contribute to CO2. The outcomes also proposed that renewable energy consumption decreases CO2 in medium and long run in Portugal. Therefore, policymakers in Portugal should stimulate investment in renewable energy sources, establish restrictive laws, and enhance energy innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all the activities in a society, construction has a key role in environmental, social, and economic pillars. Construction is also responsible for a considerable amount of waste production, energy consumption, pollutant gas emissions, and consumption of nonrenewable natural resources. Regarding energy consumption, a high demand for building operational energy has been observed in the last decades due to the more demanding requirements of the users with a continuous search for better thermal comfort in their homes, namely in developed countries. In Portugal, for instance, more than 20% of the electricity consumed is related to residential buildings, which is based on CO2 emissions and other pollutants that negatively affect the environment. Much of this consumed energy is a result of the HVAC systems installed inside buildings to provide users with thermal comfort. One exciting opportunity to mitigate buildings' operational energy consumption while contributing to thermal user comfort is the use of passive solutions. Even though several passive options are available and constantly under research, their use is still considered limited. This paper overviews and highlights the potential of energy-efficiency passive strategies, namely for Mediterranean-climate countries, where passive solar technologies can be set as a viable solution, as this climate is mainly known for its solar availability (solar hours and solar irradiance). A comprehensive overview of innovative and traditional housing passive solutions currently available is presented and discusses the main advantages, disadvantages, and concerns contributing to the optimal use of climatic conditions and natural resources in those regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation, the economy's decarbonisation, and energy poverty reduction are major challenges globally and for the European Union. However, competing agendas might create trade-off situations that hinder the achievement of these goals. Energy efficiency promotion in the residential sector, through the replacement of space heating and cooling equipment, can be an important solution to simultaneously contribute to reducing energy poverty and carbon emissions whilst improving households' comfort and wellbeing. This paper analyses the regional impact of replacing space heating and cooling equipment on energy poverty levels in the population using the Energy Poverty Vulnerability Index. Moreover, the impact on carbon emissions is also investigated. Results show that increasing equipment efficiency to regulation levels is only effective in reducing winter energy poverty, with a decrease in municipal vulnerability levels of about 18 per cent. Implementing a "deep change" in the heating and cooling equipment stock is significantly effective for reducing winter and summer energy poverty, respectively, 47.8 per cent and 26.3 per cent in average municipal levels, while significantly decreasing potential carbon dioxide emissions by 3554 kilotons. This transformation should be coupled with the improvement of buildings' energy performance and presents various significant challenges regarding financial investment and social justice that should be addressed by authorities at different scales. This study demonstrates the relevance of exploring the impact of space heating and cooling equipment replacement measures on energy poverty, efficiency and carbon emissions at the regional level while providing a replicable method for investigating this subject and producing valuable insights into other geographical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this research study is to explore higher education students' environmental knowledge, attitudes and behavior. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire was conducted among the students of a public higher education institution (HEI) in Portugal. Our findings result from 371 valid responses and allow us to conclude that most students have significant environmental knowledge, have environmentally friendly attitudes and are environmentally responsible in the areas of use of paper, recycling and energy consumption. Results also indicate that most students are aware of the importance of protecting the environment and consider themselves well informed about environmental issues. Students' main information sources of environmental information are television, social networks and the HEI they attend. We conclude that more attention should be given to HEIs, due to their significant potential to educate and train future decision makers in a society, to enhance a more protective approach to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents and discusses the application of a novel energy balance scheme for assessing energy efficiency in wastewater systems. The energy balance is demonstrated with a Portuguese real-life case study, using mathematical modelling to estimate the different energy components and to compute two energy efficiency indices. The total inflow intrinsic energy can represent a significant amount (>95%) of the total energy used in systems mainly composed of gravity sewers. The total input energy is significantly (four-times) higher in the wet season than in the dry season, mostly due to undue inflows (e.g., direct rainfall and infiltration). The potential for energy recovery strongly depends on the available head and flow rate at the delivery point, being 0.01 kWh/m3 in the current case, with a project payback period of 4 years. The energy balance components and the respective energy efficiency indices strongly depend on the considered reference elevation. Thus, a unique regional reference elevation is recommended in the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- There is a great interest from the European Union in measuring the efficiency of energy use in households, and this is an area where EDP has done research in both data collection and methodology. This paper reports on a survey of electric energy use in Portuguese households, and reviews and extends the analysis of how efficiently households use electrical energy. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate household electrical energy efficiency in different regions using econometric analysis of the survey data. In addition, the same methodology was applied to a time-series data set, to evaluate recent developments in energy efficiency. eDsign/methodology/approach -- The paper describes the application to Portuguese households of a new approach to evaluate energy efficiency, developed by Filippini and Hunt (2011, 2012) in which an econometric energy demand model was estimated to control for exogenous variables determining energy demand. The variation in energy efficiency over time and space could then be estimated by applying econometric efficiency analysis to determine the variation in energy efficiency. Findings -- The results obtained allowed the identification of priority regions and consumer bands to reduce inefficiency in electricity consumption. The time-series data set shows that the expected electricity savings from the efficiency measures recently introduced by official authorities were fully realized. Research limitations/implications -- This approach gives some guidance on how to introduce electricity saving measures in a more cost effective way. Originality/value -- This paper outlines a new procedure for developing useful tools for modelling energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to identify promising sites and technologies, in Portugal, for co-located wave energy conversion and offshore aquaculture, whilst providing benchmark implementation references and guidelines to researchers. Accordingly, two case study sites are considered for deployment of five wave energy devices and up to six aquaculture species. A thorough analysis in terms of power ratios, efficiency, redundancy, species viability, device survivability and costs is performed, seeking to find viable co-located solutions. It is found that the Wave Dragon device yields the most promising energy demand coverage and energy output (5 226 to 6 817 MWh/year). Nevertheless, it may require rescaling towards optimal operation, while the OCECO 4 excels in terms of capacity factor (0.24–0.29) and default adaptation to the deployment sites. The WaveRoller® has the lowest single-unit cost (125 €/MWh) but requires up to nine units to cover all the energy demand targets. Larger wave farms are required for the BBDB and AquaBuOY, albeit with potentially greater economies of scale and single-unit redundancy. These sites also enable cultivation of most of the considered species, even under ideal conditions. Lastly, it is recommended that the devices enter survivability mode at a significant wave height threshold of 5.5 m. • Co-located potential of wave energy harvesting and offshore aquaculture in Portugal. • 5 WECs co-located with 3 + 3 aquaculture species in two deployment sites. • Estimation of energy/power ratios, efficiency, redundancy and species viability. • Wave Dragon stands-out on energy coverage, WaveRoller® on costs and OCECO on capacity factor. • 6/6 and 4/6 viable species for Figueira da Foz (2 ideal) and Sines (3 ideal) sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes recent work on the development of a wireless-based remote monitoring system for household energy consumption and generation in Madeira Island, Portugal. It contains three different main sections: (1) a monitoring system for consumed and produced energy of residencies equipped with photovoltaic (PV) systems, (2) developing a tool to predict the electricity production, (3) and proposing a solution to detect the PV system malfunctions. With the later tool, the user (owner) or the energy management system can monitor its own PV system and make an efficient schedule use of electricity at the consumption side. In addition, currently, the owners of PV systems are notified about a failure in the system only when they receive the bill, whereas using the proposed method conveniently would notify owners prior to bill issue. The artificial neural network was employed as a tool together with the hardware-based monitoring system which allows a daily analysis of the performance of the system. The comparison of the predicted value of the produced electricity with the actual production for each day shows the validity of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable use of active heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is crucial for minimum energy consumption. Currently, research studies are increasingly applying adaptive setpoint temperatures, thus reducing considerably the energy consumption without influencing comfort levels excessively. Most of them, however, are focused on the limit values of adaptive comfort standards without considering the tolerance in users' adaptation capacity. This research study analyzed various tolerance ranges in the recent adaptive thermal comfort model from EN 16798-1:2019 used in setpoint temperatures. The study focused on the south of Europe, considering 47 cities in Spain, 18 cities in Portugal, 13 cities in Greece, and 20 cities in Italy. In addition, such cities were analyzed in three climate scenarios: present time, 2050, and 2100. The results showed that values prefixed by EN 16798-1:2019 for new buildings (tolerance of 0.00 °C) produced significant savings with respect to the static model and that each progressive improvement in users' thermal expectations in 0.25 °C increased the energy consumption between 6.57 and 9.31% in all scenarios analyzed. Even applying a thermal tolerance of 1.50 °C, energy savings are currently produced with respect to the static model. This tendency increases in future scenarios until a thermal tolerance of 1.75 °C. The results of this paper provide greater knowledge about the possible energy increase that the improvement in users' expectations would produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we measure the degree of fractional integration in final energy demand in Portugal using an ARFIMA model with and without adjustments for seasonality. We consider aggregate energy demand as well as final demand for petroleum, electricity, coal, and natural gas. Our findings suggest the presence of long memory in all of the components of energy demand. All fractional-difference parameters are positive and lower than 0.5 indicating that the series are stationary, although with mean reversion patterns slower than in the typical short-run processes. These results have important implications for the design of energy policies. As a result of the long-memory in final energy demand, the effects of temporary policy shocks will tend to disappear slowly. This means that even transitory shocks have long lasting effects. Given the temporary nature of these effects, however, permanent effects on final energy demand require permanent policies. This is unlike what would be suggested by the more standard, but much more limited, unit root approach, which would incorrectly indicate that even transitory policies would have permanent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy conservation in schools are complex challenges. A significant part of the energy demand in these buildings addresses ventilation and temperature indoors. When confronted with money/energy constraints, the tendency of school boards is to cut on IEQ requirements, compromising the comfort of the occupants or worse, their health. Besides local energy production, either electrical or heating, major focus on building management systems' (BMS) operation has been suggested, aiming at developing evidence-based energy conservation measures. Based on two field studies, a joint approach of energy and IEQ auditing was developed, establishing a state of the art of the current situation of the secondary schools in Portugal. The present study aims at enhancing energy efficiency in schools unveiling that it is possible to improve the HVAC systems' operation and optimize energy use and costs, while maintaining good environmental conditions. This paper also seeks to contribute to the implementation of energy efficiency plans (EEP) in school buildings, presenting a comprehensive methodological approach on energy consumption in this typology of buildings, centred on the fundamental role of BMS and their proper programming. The obtained results show that there is a considerable potential for reducing energy consumption and improving energy use—in one of the schools by simply adjusting the BMS operation schedule, a decrease between 20 and 36% of the useful thermal energy consumption is expected (14.1–24.7 kWh/m2); in other occasions, a significant IEQ improvement is expected due to longer HVAC running period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of renewable energy means that there is a growing demand for technology that helps to manage and consume it in an optimal way, using more energy when it is produced on sunny/ windy days, preferably at the place of production, and avoiding long-distance transmission. This opens the field for solutions based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, advanced demand management, and the concept of smart energy. The creation of a smart home energy management system (HEMS), which will help end users to manage the produced electricity, was the goal of the project entitled "e-balance – Balancing Energy Production and Consumption in Energy Efficient Smart Neighbourhoods". Research with potential users carried out within the project showed that the existence of such systems in the home environment redefines the concept of electricity, which becomes tangible and always present in sight. Users also expected that the system would significantly reduce their electricity bills, an expectation which is not always confirmed by economic simulations. This means that the final solution will have to take account of other types of motivation and engagement, e.g., environmental ones. The paper presents conclusions from quantitative and qualitative research conducted within the "e-balance" project in Poland, Portugal, and the Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing demand by increasing end-use energy efficiency on the demand side of energy systems may also have advantages in reducing fossil dependency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the supply side. This paper addresses interactions between energy supply- and demand-side policies, by estimating the impact of measures addressing end-use energy efficiency and small-scale renewables uses in terms of (1) avoided large-scale electricity generation capacity, (2) final energy consumption, (3) share of renewables in final energy and (4) reduction of GHG emissions. The Portuguese energy system is used as a case study. The TIMES_PT bottom-up model was used to generate four scenarios covering the period up to 2020, corresponding to different levels of efficiency of equipment in buildings, transport and industry. In the current policy scenario, the deployment of end-use equipment follows the 2000-2005 trends and the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan targets. In the efficient scenarios, all types of equipment can be replaced by more efficient ones. Results show that aggressive demand-side options for the industry and buildings sector and the small-scale use of renewables can remove the need for the increase in large-scale renewable electricity capacity by 4.7 GW currently discussed by policy makers. Although these measures reduce total final energy by only 0-2 %, this represents reductions of 11-14 % in the commercial sector, with savings in total energy system costs of approximately 3,000 million euros-roughly equivalent to 2 % of the 2010 Portuguese GDP. The cost-effectiveness of policy measures should guide choices between supply shifts and demand reduction. Such balanced policy development can lead to substantial cost reductions in climate and energy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport is one of the sectors of the energy consumption where the presence of renewable energies is lower and its increase is hard to achieve especially in countries that import all the fuels that they consume. This paper addresses the progress that Portugal is making toward a more sustainable transport sector. A near- and medium- term scenario analysis is performed, based on the energy consumption in the past and on a detailed evaluation of the trends for renewable energy in the transport sector. The near-term scenarios aim at portraying the conditions that allow the country to fulfill the target of 10% renewable share in transportation established by the European Union. The medium-term scenarios highlight the implications, in terms of emission reduction and of energy independence, deriving from the use of electric vehicles and natural gas, synthetic and fossil, as alternatives to liquid fuels. The results show that electric vehicles would substantially reduce the total energy consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions, while the promotion of routes for synthetic natural gas would contribute to taking advantage of local resources. The paper also provides some insights about the design of future policies to build a more sustainable transport sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energies can benefit the water sector, reducing the cost and the environmental impact of water production. This paper presents a technical and economic assessment of a photovoltaic generation project to supply energy to a grid-connected seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant and of an associated battery energy storage system (BESS) using lithium-ion batteries. It examines the case study of the SWRO desalination plant on Porto Santo Island (Madeira, Portugal). The assessment is supplemented by a sensitivity analysis of several variables. The findings indicate that photovoltaic generation in desalination plants results in a lower levelized cost of energy (LCoE) and reduces the consumption of fossil fuel energy from the electrical grid. This can lead to lower desalinated water costs and greenhouse gas emissions. A feasible rated power range was identified for the photovoltaic plant in this case study, taking the internal rate of return, net present value, payback and LCoE into consideration. The results also point to a higher LCoE when a lithium-ion BESS is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of energy efficiency are recognized in multiple socio-economic spheres. Still, the quantitative impact on macroeconomic performance is not fully understood, as modeling tools are not thermodynamically consistent—failing to explicitly include the useful stage of energy flows and/or thermodynamic efficiencies in primary–final–useful energy transformations. Misspecification in the link between energy use and the economy underplays the role of energy use and efficiency in economic growth. In this work, we develop and implement the Macroeconometric Resource Consumption model for Portugal (MARCO-PT), 1960–2014. Based on the post-Keynesian framework developed for the United Kingdom (MARCO-UK), our model explicitly includes thermodynamic energy efficiency, extending the analysis to the useful stage of energy flows. The model's stochastic equations are econometrically estimated. The historical influence of key variables—namely thermodynamic energy efficiency—on economic output is assessed through counterfactual simulations and computation of year-by-year output elasticities. The MARCO-PT model adequately describes the historical behavior of endogenous variables. Although its influence has decreased over time, thermodynamic efficiency has consistently been the major contributor to economic growth between 1960–2014, with an average output elasticity of 0.46. Total useful exergy is also a major contributing factor, with an average output elasticity of 0.29. Both have a higher influence than capital, labor, or other energy variables (final energy, prices). An adequate integration of thermodynamic efficiency is thus crucial for macroeconomic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an in-depth assessment of the environmental performance of five public schools in the transition towards a low-carbon economy and a more sustainable model of society. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used to conduct the study. The school system includes several activities and processes clustered in three subsystems: management of the school building, training and learning activities (T&L) and mobility and transport (M&T). A detailed primary data inventory of energy and resources consumption was collected in five schools located in Spain and Portugal. Findings on climate change (CC), water depletion (WD), particular matter (PM), acidification (Ac), and human health (HH), as well as associated external cost (EC), are reported per student in one school year as reference unit, allowing the schools' individual performance comparison and identify the potential improvements. Considering the sample of schools, findings reveal that peculiarities of the schools, such as location, specialization, and level of education, are crucial for the environmental performance. Buildings are a relevant contributor to CC as well as heating and electricity needs, although their relevance is dependent on multiple factors. The M&T subsystem also has relevant weight on the metrics evaluated. Educational activities have a lower impact in absolute terms but, in some schools, it becomes the main contributor to HH due to paper and electricity consumption and manufacturing of equipment. External costs results are in the range of 11 to 38 EUR/student·year mainly caused by heating, electricity and wastes from the building subsystem, and the M&T subsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has been allocating funds for the energy transition to meet escalating global energy demands while minimising the environmental impact. This paper focuses on the impact of post-pandemic policies on photovoltaic technology in Italy and Portugal, specifically analysing self-consumption schemes and energy communities. A techno-economic assessment identified optimal PV systems for four families in each country, considering financial incentives. Italy offers Superbonus 110 and Ecobonus schemes, while Portugal provides access to the Environmental Fund. Profitable PV systems with storage are feasible in Italy but not in Portugal. Superbonus 110 favours smaller systems, Ecobonus supports larger ones, and Portuguese policies prioritise smaller systems. Simulations of energy communities for the same families showed that in Italy, the best configurations consist of families acting as producers with larger PV capacities and smaller batteries. In contrast, in Portugal, the policies favour smaller PV systems without batteries, resulting in optimal configurations where families are solely consumers. This research underscores diverse national approaches to post-pandemic energy policies and their nuanced impacts on PV technology in Italy and Portugal. It can be concluded that energy communities offer greater profitability than individual self-consumption schemes. This is because individual households continue to prioritise self-consumption and personal savings while selling their excess energy at a more favourable price than what they would receive from the grid. • In Italy, there are financial incentives and in Portugal, electricity cost reductions. • The models used the Net Present Value and the Internal Rate of Return as indicators. • In Italy, Superbonus 100 favours smaller systems, while Ecobonus supports larger ones. • Smaller systems without batteries for self-consumption are more profitable in Portugal. • Energy communities are more economically viable in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing Europe's decarbonisation challenge involves widespread deployment of nearly zero-energy buildings, deep energy renovations and renewable energy integration in the building sector. Enhancing energy efficiency in public buildings necessitates tailored solutions and strategic planning involving Local Public Administration. This work focuses on advancing insights into the application of the PrioritEE Decision Support Tool in Portuguese public buildings, highlighting the energy and financial savings and carbon dioxide emission reduction potential. Using detailed building characterisation data from energy performance certificates, we applied the tool across 22 public buildings of diverse typologies in three distinct regions of Portugal, representing various public entities. Results demonstrate the tool's adaptability, enabling a comprehensive assessment of energy performance and facilitating the exploration of customised energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. The research emphasises the critical role of user-friendly tools in aiding policymakers and local administration technicians in meeting national renovation targets and contributing to the broader energy transition objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meat product industries play a major role in many global economies. In several countries, it is the industry with a higher economic weight within the food industries. As refrigeration systems are indispensable within the production processes, it is important to improve the overall energy efficiency in order to reduce the electricity consumption in these industries. The electrical energy consumption of the Portuguese meat industries is evaluated in this paper. The field study shows that electrical energy accounts for 66.5 % of the overall energy consumption in slaughterhouses, 85 % in sausage houses and 92.5 % in ham industries. Relatively to the refrigeration systems of these industries, results show that the average compressor nominal power per unit of cold room volume is comprised between 0.072 and 0.043 kW/m. The average value of the specific electrical energy consumption for the slaughterhouses was 149 kWh/ton, 660 kWh/ton for sausage houses and 1208 kWh/ton for ham production industries. Finally, a potential reduction of the electricity consumption based on simple energy efficiency measures was estimated in 24 % for the slaughterhouses, 13 % for the sausage houses and 8 % for the ham industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to apply Ecological Footprint methodology as a tool to analyze the Portuguese textile industry. This analysis is related to energy and resources consumption in dyeing, printing and finishing processes. It also includes identification of mitigation measures to increase energy efficiency, promoting at the same time the reduction of CO2 emissions and consequently the decrease in industry's Ecological Footprint. Moreover, the analysis presents the Ecological Footprint reduction potential for each mitigation option proposed for an important textile facility located in the North Region of Portugal, used as a case study in this work. The results for the case study showed that the total Ecological Footprint accounted, for the year 2016, summed up to 4890 gha. Furthermore, the energy category corresponds to more than 50% of the total Ecological Footprint estimation, and natural gas was the most required fuel for the processes. The calculation of the Ecological Footprint in the textile facilities can be used as a tool to analyze the processes' energy efficiency and to quantify the global impact of the implementation of mitigation measures in the energy field. The result is an indicator shown in a common unit, gha (global hectare) and it can be easily used to compare energy-intensive processes and industrial sectors. In addition, it can be used to analyze how each sector can impact the country's total demand for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most recent sustainability policies of each region of the world conjointly define that economic activities shall follow the principles of natural resource use minimisation, as well as eco-efficiency and circular economy promotion, in addition to the specific objectives defined in each policy. Most recently, a group of researchers has proposed innovative conceptual systems designated Water and Energy Integration Systems (WEIS) for issues related to water and energy use (two prominent categories of natural resources). These are based on engineering projects encompassing a multitude of processes and technologies. In this work, an assessment based on the determination of several sustainability and strategic-aims-related indicators is performed for two WEIS case studies set in the Portuguese process industry (in this case, a ceramic plant). Such an assessment serves as an expansion of previously performed studies on the economic and environmental viability associated with the installation of this type of system with the ultimate goal of proving the effective compliance of water- and energy-use-reduction-related results with sustainability and strategic aims (namely, the ones associated with the most recent policies and aspects associated with the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability). The results for the overall assessment proved that the conceptualised WEIS are robust in terms of eco-efficiency, circular economy potential, and strategic objective achievement potential (with a 6.46% and 4.00% improvement for the aggregated eco-efficiency indicator having been obtained for, respectively, case studies 1 and 2, a null water discharge for both case studies, and a level of 8.58% and 6.69% of recirculated heat over total energy consumption, respectively). The obtained results prove the sustainability promotion effectiveness of the WEIS as conceptual systems. The overall set of indicators defined in this work are part of a methodology that may be used and adapted for further studies considering the innovative WEIS approach, with the specific results obtained in this work presented with the aim of their being used for comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural farms constitute a vital component of a country's agricultural landscape, traditionally reliant on energy installations known for their reliability yet notorious for their energy-intensive and inefficient characteristics. While the smart farm concept, integrating renewable energy sources and resource management technologies, has seen widespread adoption in domestic and industrial sectors, rural farms have been slower to embrace these innovations. This study presents a groundbreaking solution, deployed on a rural farm in Portugal, resulting in an impressive 83.24% reduction in energy consumption sourced from the grid. Notably, this achievement translates to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, aligning with the growing need for environmentally sustainable farming practices. The technical intricacies of this pioneering solution are comprehensively described and juxtaposed with other scientific case studies, offering valuable insights for replication. This initiative represents a vital first step towards the integration or combination of conventional farming with photovoltaic energy production, exemplified by agrivoltaic systems. In conclusion, this research showcases the potential for rural farms to significantly enhance energy efficiency and financial viability, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective agricultural sector. These findings serve as a model for similar endeavors, paving the way for a greener and more economically viable future for rural farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuel dependency in Portugal is represented in around 76% of the total primary energy use, from which almost half is associated to the road transport sector. The reduction of imported fossil energy, pollutants and CO2 emissions is seen as a solution to a more sustainable energy system. This paper analyzes the market penetration of battery electric vehicles in the road transport sector as an alternative and more efficient technology, considering its maximum share in the transport sector in 2050. The main goal is to evaluate the energy consumption, air pollutants (including CO2 emissions), and the economic impacts of conventional and electric vehicles in Portugal. The environmental Kuznets effect in the studied factors is also evaluated. Life cycle methodology was applied to the "fuel" production and use stage, and to the materials of the vehicle. Although reducing energy consumption and emissions is essential, the relation of such impact within the region economy is also extremely important. Based on a Kuznets curve hypothesis, some of those impacts were possible to co-relate with the gross domestic product evolution in Portugal. The evolution of the energy source share, energy production efficiency, vehicle type share in the Portuguese light duty vehicle fleet, and technology efficiency, was also considered. Although the electrification of the road sector can potentially lower the fossil fuel importation, the electricity demand should increase. Nevertheless, it is estimated that around 43% of the energy consumption, 47% of CO2 emissions, and 17%-40% of air pollutants could be reduced with the expected electric vehicle evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of cold and hot ambient conditions on the same CPV/T are studied. • A multiphysics (thermal-fluid coupling) 3D FE model of CPV/T is developed. • Effects of fluid flow rate on CPV/T performance are described. • Different cross-section coolant fluid channels are studied. • Annual CPV/T performance for Lisbon (Portugal) and Gävle (Sweden) is a case study. In the presented paper, we developed a partnership with the Swedish company Solarus AB to study the performance of a CPV/T under very distinct climate zones: Sweden and Portugal. We focus on thermal effects and their influence on the CPV/T's energy efficiency. Therefore, we develop an electromagnetic-thermal finite element model (FEM) of the CPV/T in 2D and 3D, capable of computing the heat transfer occurring due to the flow of cooling fluid. Furthermore, we use the developed model to evaluate temperature conditions over the different layers of the photovoltaic panel and fluid temperature along the CPV/T. The evaluation shows that it is the CPV/T cooling structure that has a major influence on CPV/T's performance when it functions in climate zones with very different temperature scales along the year. The shape of cooling channels, for example, must continue to ensure a better heat transfer, leading thus to a more uniform distribution of the temperature along with the receiver. Also, fluid flow rates must be carefully selected to avoid solar cells reach their maximum operating temperatures (85 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New calculation of CSE criteria (Cyclist Specific Effort) and cycling ventilation rates. • New method for evaluating best cycling paths, with less pollutant's inhalation and less effort. • Cycling-User-friendly tool with distance, time, effort and pollutants inhalation, as input criteria. • Validation that exposure to pollutants is sensitive to environmental conditions and user characteristics. There is a growing effort on policies and projects to support a modal shift towards active transport modes, namely the bicycle. The selection of preferred routes, and consequently the implementation of cycle routes, are usually based on distance, time and safety, not on exposure to pollutants. This paper presents a methodology to compare alternative routes, considering not only journey distance and time but also cyclist effort and exposure to pollutants mainly from traffic emissions (that also relates to the cyclist effort). The main purpose of this work is to develop a simple tool that allows municipalities and end users to estimate the effort required and the exposure to pollutants on potential routes, therefore supporting planning and design of infrastructure. The concept of cyclist specific effort (CSE) is developed in this work. The cyclist's highest specific ventilation rates are estimated from a direct relationship with the CSE, based on the specific characteristics of the users and on a calibrated relationship in the lab. A case study is presented for the route that connects two campuses of the University of Coimbra, Portugal (≈5 km). Results show that some alternative routes, which are generally not considered due to the increment of distance and/or time, can significantly reduce exposure to pollutants while requiring the same or even less effort. A reduction of approximately one third in the inhalation of pollutants from traffic emissions (33.1%) is possible by choosing a slightly longer route (6%) and requires a similar total effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Road freight transportation accounts for a significant share of the worldwide CO 2 -Emissions, indicating that respective operations are not sustainable. Regarding the forecasted increase in CO 2 -Emissions from this sector, undertaking responsibilities for its environmental impact are needed. Although technical and strategic solutions to reduce emissions have been introduced, or are in development, these rarely yield instant emission reduction potentials. A strategic approach to reducing them instantly, based on the given infrastructure and existing vehicle fleet, may be achieved through route optimization. Route optimization is a well-researched topic in the transportation domain. However, it is mainly used to reduce transportation times and expenses. Rising expectations towards sustainability by authorities and consumers led to an increased interest in route optimization in which environmental externalities, such as fuel consumption and CO 2 -Emissions are minimized. This paper introduces a Geographic Information System (GIS) based 3D-Routing-Model, which incorporates models to estimate vehicle fuel consumption while taking effects, such as road inclination and varying velocities into account. The proposed model utilizes a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to enrich a road network with elevation data. The 3D-Routing-Model is applied in different distribution scenarios within the framework of an artificial company in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal to evaluate the effects of road inclination on vehicles fuel consumption and its proportional CO 2 -Emissions. Results indicate that eco-friendly routes can yield significant fuel and emission saving potentials of up to 20% in the tested scenarios. However, eco-friendly routes are characterized by longer distances as well as operation times, which leads to increased expenses. The question remains if companies within the transportation sector are more interested in maximizing their profits, or investing in a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the nexus between growth and primary energy consumption in Portugal, using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds test approach with annual time series data from 1965 to 2008. Portugal is a medium-sized economy which has experienced several episodes of economic expansion and stagnation that make it of particular interest. Portugal is constrained by external energy dependency and is faced with the policies of energy preservation due to international commitments and initiatives, such as the Kyoto Protocol and Directives of European Union, that potentially may have deep implications for its economic growth. Empirical results suggest that energy causes growth in the long run and short run, but growth only causes energy consumption in the short run. Therefore, an energy policy to promote consumption constraints on energy will reduce GDP growth in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Portugal is a country with an energy system highly dependent on oil and gas imports. Imports of oil and gas accounted for 85% of the country’s requirements in 2005 and 86% in 2006. Meanwhile, the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the total primary energy consumption was only 14% in 2006. When focusing only on electricity production, the situation is somewhat better. The share of RES in gross electricity production varies between 20% and 35% and is dependent on the hydropower production in wet and dry years. This paper presents, on a national scale, Portugal’s energy system planning and technical solutions for achieving 100% RES electricity production. Planning was based on hourly energy balance and use of H2RES software. The H2RES model provides the ability to integrate various types of storages into energy systems in order to increase penetration of the intermittent renewable energy sources or to achieve a 100% renewable island, region or country. The paper also represents a stepping-stone for studies offering wider possibilities in matching and satisfying electricity supply in Portugal with potential renewable energy sources. Special attention has been given to intermittent sources such as wind, solar and ocean waves that can be coupled to appropriate energy storage systems charged with surplus amounts of produced electricity. The storage systems also decrease installed power requirements for generating units. Consequently, these storages will assist in avoiding unnecessary rejection of renewable potential and reaching a sufficient security of energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current buildings are responsible for the highest energy consumption, exceeding polluting sectors such as industry and transports. In Portugal, a large part of the building stock was built in the 1970s and 1980s, but buildings dated from the 1960s and 1970s are the ones with the most anomalies and worst quality of construction and, therefore, worst energy performance. The renovation of those buildings can represent an excellent opportunity to correct and improve their energy deficiency and, with that, to promote a more sustainable building stock. The ETICS system is the most used for the renovation of buildings in Portugal due to its lower cost, quick application and thermal efficiency, but it doesn't solve other problems that may exist, such as structural safety and interior organization of the existing building. The application of prefabricated systems in the envelope has proved to be successful in improving energy efficiency, allowing new volumes and extra areas while contributing to the structural resilience of existing buildings. This paper aims to describe the current situation of the buildings renovation in Portugal and to discuss the potential of innovative envelope retrofitting solutions, using natural materials like timber, and is more concerned with the problems of existing buildings and the need for comfort and space for the occupants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the development of a carbon dioxide emissions matrix for the Oeiras municipality, one of the largest Portuguese municipalities, located in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. This matrix takes into account greenhouse gas emissions, caused by an increase of electricity demand in buildings as well as solid and liquid wastes treatment, from the domestic and services sectors. Using emission factors that were calculated from the relationship between the produced energy and amount of treated wastes, greenhouse gas emissions in the Oeiras municipality, were estimated for a time series of six years (1998 to 2003). The results obtained showed that the electricity sector accounts for about 75% of the municipal emissions in 2003. This study constitutes a tool to define sectors for appropriate action, including energy planning and also public information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MFA for paper, panels, sawmill and energy (pellets, charcoal and power plants). • Assessment of cascade factor, MCI, recovery rate, recycled input rate. • Only 25% of consumed forest biomass was incorporated in final products. • Panels sector had the highest CF and paper sector the highest MCI. • Cascade factor and MCI are complementary indicators of circularity. A comprehensive understanding of how resources are utilized is required to support a circular bioeconomy. This article presents the first systematic assessment of forest biomass flows and stocks in Portugal and analyzes circularity and resource efficiency through a comprehensive set of indicators, while providing recommendations for their use and improvement in different contexts. A Material Flow Analysis was developed for 2015, including paper, wood panels, furniture, carpentry, packaging, other woodwork, and energy (firewood, pellets, charcoal, electricity, heat), addressing uncertainty. Material flow analysis indicators (e.g., domestic material consumption) and circularity/resource efficiency indicators (cascade factor, material circularity indicator, recycled input, recovery rate) were assessed. In 2015, 49% of forest biomass was used for energy and 51% for material production. The wood sector in Portugal is heterogeneous regarding circularity. Paper and wood packaging were the most recycled products (highest material circularity indicator: 0.49 and recovery rate: 54%), while the panels sector used the most industrial residues (highest cascade factor: 3.78). The indicators analyzed provided a complementary assessment of circularity, giving both system wide (cascade factor) and sector- (cascade factor, recycled input rate, recovery rate) or product-based (material circularity indicator) views. Cascade factor permits an analysis of the whole system and of separate sectors, and an assessment of post-consumer and industrial residues, and both material and energy use. Material circularity indicator considers closed- and open-loop recycling of post-consumer residues, being complementary to the cascade factor. Indicators providing complementary perspectives are important to capture multiple types of resource use and valorization within the bioeconomy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in internal combustion engines has raised the opportunity for the use of renewable energy sources. For the progressive replacement of fossil fuels like diesel, those derived from the sustainable management of forest resources may be a good option. In Portugal, pine trees (pinus pinaster) are among the most widely cultivated tree species. Turpentine can be extracted from their sap without harming the tree. Turpentine is known to be a good fuel with a lower viscosity than regular diesel but with a comparable caloric value, boiling point and ignition characteristics, although it is not widely used as a compression ignition fuel. Moreover, recent research has highlighted the possibility of substantially increasing the turpentine yield through biotechnology, bringing it closer to economic viability. The present study investigates the performance, pollutant emissions and fuel consumption of a 1.6 L four-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine operating with several blends of commercial diesel fuel and turpentine obtained from pine trees. The aim of this study was to assess whether it would be possible to maintain or even improve the performance, fuel consumption and GHG and pollutant emissions (HC, NOx, CO and PM) of the engine with the partial incorporation of this biofuel. Turpentine blends of up to 30% in substitution of regular diesel fuel were tested. The main novelties of the present work are related to (i) the careful testing of a still-insufficiently studied fuel that could gain economical attractiveness with the recent developments in yield improvement through biotechnology and (ii) the tests conducted under fixed engine load positions typical of road and highway conditions. The addition of this biofuel only slightly impacted the engine performance parameters. However, a slightly positive effect was observed in terms of torque, with an increase of up to 7.9% at low load for the 15T85D mixture and 6.8% at high load being observed. Power registered an increase of 9% for the 15T85D mixture at low speed and an increase of 5% for the 30T70D mixture at high speed when compared to the reference fuel (commercial diesel fuel). While the efficiency and fossil GHG emissions were improved with the incorporation of turpentine, it had a mixed effect on polluting emissions such as unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and smoke (PM) and a negative effect on nitrogen oxides (NOx). NOx emissions increased by 30% for high loads and 20% for low loads, mainly as an indirect effect of the improvement in the engine performance and not so much as a consequence of the marginally higher oxygen content of turpentine relative to commercial diesel fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Portugal's effort to reduce carbon emissions, the country still emits about 1.6% of the European Union's CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, limited empirical studies have been undertaken in the context of Portugal. As a result, this study examines the asymmetric and long-term impact of CO2 intensity of GDP, energy consumption, renewable energy and economic growth on CO2 emissions in Portugal from 1990 to 2019. The nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) is employed to uncover the asymmetric connection. The findings show that there is nonlinear cointegration among the variables. The long-run estimation reveals a positive change in energy consumption positively affects CO2 emissions, while a negative shock in energy consumption has a neutral effect on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, positive shocks of economic growth and CO2 intensity of GDP enhance environmental deterioration by increasing CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the negative shock of these regressors positively impacts CO2 emissions. In addition, positive shocks in renewable energy enhance environmental quality, while negative shocks in renewable energy increase environmental deterioration in Portugal. Policymakers should focus on reducing per-unit energy usage and CO2 efficiency gains, which would necessitate a significant reduction in CO2 intensity and energy density of GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents causal recipes leading to high and low energy consumption efficiency performances using fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The study found that several causal conditions are sufficient for high energy efficiency performance, including several fiscal and financial incentive policies, a highly educated population, many completed dwellings, and low GDP. The study also found that high inequality in completed dwellings and completed reconstructions, coupled with a low GDP and a low number of policies, lead to high energy consumption efficiency performance. In addition, the analysis showed slight differences between the yearly consistencies, suggesting that time effects are not a concern. On the other hand, a low education level, Gini coefficient, few completed dwellings and reconstructions, coupled with a low number of fiscal and financial policies, are the causal conditions leading to low energy consumption efficiency performance. The study's results suggest that policymakers and stakeholders should consider a combination of several causal conditions when implementing energy efficiency policies. The study also highlights the need for policies focusing on education, fiscal and financial incentives, completed dwellings, and reconstructions to achieve high energy efficiency performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A methodology for identifying cost-effective solutions for districts is presented. • The usefulness of the methodology is shown in a Case study located in Portugal. • All the analysed centralised approaches are cost-effective. • A carbon emissions neutral district can be achieved maintaining cost-effectiveness. Building renovation plays a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the climate protection goals. The district scale approach is one of the most effective approaches to accelerate this process of reducing the energy consumption in the building sector as increasing its renovation rates. In this context, the Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme of the IEA, IEA-EBC started in 2017 the project "Annex 75: Cost-Effective Building renovation at District Level Combining Energy Efficiency and Renewables" aiming to explore optimal opportunities of district renovations from a cost-benefit perspective. IEA Annex 75 is a co-operative effort of participants from 13 different countries: Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In this paper, key elements of the methodology developed in Annex 75 project are presented. This methodology aims to facilitate the identification of optimal solutions in different European countries, enabling to explore similarities and differences amongst them, with a particular focus on the balance between energy efficiency measures and renewable energy measures. After a detailed description of the developed methodology, it is also applied to a case study located in Portugal and results obtained are analysed in detail. The paper demonstrates the usefulness of the methodology for evaluating and identifying optimal solutions in renovations at district scale, as well as for successfully addressing the research questions investigated by the Annex 75 project. They also provide some insights regarding the specific case study, showing that, although district systems are not usual in the current Portuguese context, these centralised solutions in renovations at district level are cost-effective interventions that can lead to significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and non-renewable primary energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contents of this paper address the concept of net zero energy in industrial and commercial buildings, focusing on the definition which accounts for energy losses by converting each energy carrier used in the building to source energy. Therefore, this paper presents a sample of several source energy conversion factors commonly used in the United States, Canada and in most European countries. Energy efficiency in industrial and commercial buildings is discussed throughout the work, including a brief review of energy-efficiency measures which can be implemented in order to increase the efficiency and improve the performance of these energy-intensive buildings. Net metering is introduced due to its importance towards achieving net zero energy, along with its potential benefits and challenges, as well as a brief overview of policies currently being implemented around the world. In addition, various aspects regarding the classification of the weighting system and calculation of zero energy balance are also addressed. Finally, a case study is presented to evaluate whether five distinct enterprises located in Portugal can achieve annual net zero energy by deploying on-site renewable sources in the area available within their site boundary. This case study is based on a developed algorithm which allows the evaluation of these enterprises according to different symmetric and asymmetric weighting systems. The concepts of demand response and net metering are also briefly discussed and presented as a viable and cost-effective solution to aid any building achieving annual net zero energy. • Energy efficiency is mandatory to achieve net zero energy in industrial buildings. • Several process specific measures can be adopted in each industrial sector. • Source energy conversion factors are presented to assist the balance calculation. • The choice of weighting factors heavily influences the building energy balance. • Asymmetric weights favouring generation are suitable for net zero-energy buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of fiscal and financial incentives for energy efficiency labels on eco-friendly houses (houses with high energy efficiency certificates, such as A+, A, B, and B−) in 18 municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan region during the period 2014–2020. The empirical results indicate that the variables of fiscal incentive policies for energy efficiency labels, income per capita, credit agreements for the purchase or construction of a house, and the number of completed dwellings in new constructions for family housing encourage eco-friendly houses. In contrast, the variable number of completed reconstructions per 100 completed new constructions has a negative impact. Although this study is constrained by data limitations resulting from the short period under analysis and the moderate number of municipalities available, it advances the discussions around energy efficiency in residential properties in Portugal. Furthermore, it investigates the effectiveness of tax incentive policies for energy efficiency seals as an instrument for promoting ecological houses in the municipalities of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Thus, the need to study the Portuguese capital stands out as it is the most populous city in the country and concentrates a large part of the economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building information modelling (BIM) is the first step towards implementing Building 4.0, where virtual reality and digital twins are key elements. The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) to capture data from buildings is nowadays a very popular method, so a methodology was developed to digitally integrate the photogrammetric surveys of a building into BIM, exclusively with the use of drones. Currently, buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption in Europe; therefore, the interconnection between BIM and building energy modelling (BEM) is essential to digitalize the construction sector, increasing competitiveness through cost reduction. In this context, the BlueWoodenHouse Project aims, among other activities, to characterize the solutions/systems of building materials and monitor the temperature, relative humidity and CO2, as well as energy consumption, of a single-family modular wooden house located in the north of Portugal, with 190 m2 and three users. Thus, the experimental monitoring results, of this case study, were used to validate the numerical model developed in the DesignBuilder simulator, which includes the building envelope's 3D geometrical data obtained by one of those aircraft, in order to demonstrate the usefulness of drones for the optimization of solutions, from the energy point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 11 EU countries registered a convergent pattern in per capita energy use in. • The convergence was persistent Ireland and Spain. • Divergent behaviour was observed in UK, Germany, Portugal and Italy. • The EU membership enhanced economic growth and the energy use. The European Green Deal initiatives refer to pollution reduction and management of climate changes. The aim of this paper is to analyze the stochastic convergence in per capita energy use in the EU-15 countries in the period 1970–2019. Besides the application of unit root tests with low power, this research proposes subsampling confidence intervals (asymmetrical and equal-tailed confidence intervals) to assess stochastic convergence. The approach based on confidence intervals provides additional information on the persistence of the energy use. 11 countries in the EU-15 registered a convergent pattern, while per capita energy use in Ireland and Spain was persistent. A divergent behaviour was observed in the case of the UK, Germany, Portugal and Italy. The three groups of countries were used in constructing an ANOVA/ linear Dependent Dirichlet Process (DDP) mixture model to show that economic growth is a significant cause for per capita energy use in countries with convergent behaviour. Moreover, EU membership enhances economic activity and also energy use. Specific policies are proposed for each group of countries to decline the per capita energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research is to assess the impact of energy certificate ratings (EPCs) on the value per m2 of Portuguese housing sales. Data from 289 Portuguese municipalities between 2014 and 2019, analysed with a fixed effects panel and method of moments quantile regression, were used. EPCs with high energy efficiency ratings (e.g., A+, A, B, and B-) are used as a proxy for dwellings with "green" or "environmentally friendly" certificates. On the other hand, ratings with a low energy efficiency (e.g., C, D, E, and F) are used as a proxy for dwellings with "non-green" or "not environmentally friendly" certificates. The results support that EPCs associated with green housing increase the value per m2 of housing sales, and those associated with non-green housing decrease the sales value. It was also found that municipal GDP, tax/financial incentive policies for energy efficiency, and the number of completed dwellings in new constructions for family housing will increase sales value. On the other hand, credit agreements and completed reconstructions reduce sales value. Lastly, the results and outgrowths of this study will support the policymakers and governments in developing consistent policies and initiatives that promote the "green" or "eco-friendly" dwellings in Portugal or in similar economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]