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Hospitals present a widely recognized margin for energy conservation due to their elevated final energy use intensity. Specifically, operating rooms are among the functional areas with greatest energy demand in hospitals, given the stringent indoor conditions for patients and surgical staff. However, energy efficiency in surgical facilities has traditionally been overlooked by the scientific literature in favor of guaranteeing adequate air quality conditions. This paper assesses the potential energy savings that could be achieved in a surgical suite in a Spanish hospital by lowering the current ventilation rates to the lowest energy-demanding values recommended by the proper Spanish standard and other international codes. Likewise, the paper assesses the actual hygrothermal and ventilation conditions in the suite based on the results of a continuous monitoring campaign performed for a period of 12 days. Simulations undertaken with a dynamic energy model specifically developed and calibrated for this work revealed that the average energy intensity of the suite is 1021 kWh/m 2 /year (1685 kWh/m 2 /year for operating rooms), with 80% of the total annual thermal demand corresponding to periods of inactivity. In addition, energy savings between 40% and 80% are possible while complying with both national and international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy consumption in buildings accounts for a significant percentage of total world energy utilization. Great efforts have been made in order to reduce fossil energy consumption and mitigate its depletion by means of energy efficiency directives. The national transposition of such directives generates regional regulations that might be counterproductive if it is not clear which one is more restrictive. The main goal of this paper is to evaluate the potential of energetic savings of the dwellings in Catalonia and its economic impact, according to different scenarios of efficiency that have been defined according to current regulations at state and autonomic level. To achieve this objective, thirteen typologies of dwellings have been defined in order to categorize the stock of buildings in Catalonia. Simulations with LIDER software have been carried out in order to obtain the heating and cooling demand for each typology of dwelling in different climatic zones and orientations. The economic impact of each scenario has been stated as well. We show that the best normative scenario is not the regional but the national one, and only when full limitations imposed by the state regulations are fulfilled. Following the latter 6.4% reduction in CO2 emissions would be achieved, whereas following the former gives us only 2.8% reduction for year 2015. These results have been obtained considering a base case scenario without any energetic measures implemented for the same time line. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Numerous computer programs are available to calculate the energy efficiency of buildings. Many are based on the use of a reference building to determine the degree of efficiency. However, this methodology presents a major constraint when assessing a building after construction and during the use stage. To assess the energy efficiency of buildings, this paper proposes new indices based on energy consumption during different periods; as well as other parameters of the buildings such as construction area, number of users, and air-conditioned volume. Results are presented as an application for various buildings on the campus of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The significant and continuous increment in the global electricity consumption is asking for energy saving strategies. Efficient control for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) is the most cost-effective way to minimize the use of energy in buildings. In this framework, an energy management and control system (EMCS) has been developed to schedule electricity end-uses in the campus of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), Spain. This paper presents an evaluation performed by using the EMCS of different control strategies for HVAC split systems. It analyzed the effect of different schedules for a common air-conditioning device and demand response strategies are tested in several situations. The economic saving is calculated taking into account the electricity contract clauses. Finally, a test is made for the control of a group of similar devices in order to reduce the maximum peak power in consumption and to obtain a flexible load shape with the HVAC loads. The studies are then extrapolated to a larger system, the whole University campus, for which energy and economic savings are quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]