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The development of EBT in Indonesia is still far from the target of the National Energy Policy (KEN), the EBT mix of 23% in 2025 and 31% in 2050. One form of EBT development is utilizing solar energy in building technology that has high energy efficiency so that the number of electrical energy consumption is close to zero or called nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB). Therefore, it is necessary to design the most optimal rooftop solar power plant (PLTS) so that it has good energy production and economic feasibility. To get a good energy production, simulation is carried out using HelioScope software by inputting data on the mechanical and electrical segments so that the amount of energy that can be produced by the rooftop solar power plant is obtained in detail. The results of the simulation of the rooftop solar power plant system that is installed on-grid in HelioScope are composed of 96 monocrystalline solar panels of Trina Solar TSM-DE20-605W (605W) and 3 3-phase inverters of Growatt MID 17KTL-X. The rooftop solar power plant produces an annual production of 84,08 MWh with a performance ratio of 82,1%. Thus, the average percentage of energy supply from rooftop solar power plants is 39,82% or can be said to be good in supplying the electrical energy needs of buildings so that the nZEB can be developed. From the simulation results, the economic feasibility is known, with the Break Even Point (BEP) reached in 12,4 years of the 25 years project period, and the Net Present Value (NPV) and Return on Investment (RoI) are positive, indicating that the rooftop solar power plant is profitable and feasible to develop.

An affordable multifamily housing building archetype project was researched to improve the building envelope's thermo-physical performance based on thermal insulation configurations to optimize the energy use, life-cycle cost, environmental impact, and thermal comfort with questioning nZEB concept. Five thermal insulation materials as extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), rockwool (RW), glass wool (GW), and cellular glass (CG), were studied with four > attribute variations (thermal comfort, density, embodied carbon, and embodied energy) and five thickness variations (0.04, 0.08, 0.12, 0.16, 0.20 m). A total of 100 alternative scenarios > were obtained for the decision-making process, with four performance criteria to be evaluated in terms of energy, cost, thermal comfort, and environmental impact. Equal weights method (EWM), weighted sum method (WSM), and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were examined for the multi-criteria decision-making among 46 scenarios vel. The analysis beyond the cost-optimal energy efficiency level, which varies between 64.89 and 72.62 kWh/m2a for primary energy use with a potential 10% further reduction, ensures the European Commission's recommendations that target 50–70 kWh/m2a of primary energy use for housings in the continental climate to achieve nZEB. The best scenarios cover significantly the XPS at the head due to lover investment costs, where RW, GW, and EPS are followed among the best 10 scenarios, respectively. Besides, AHP provides a more effective distribution of weighting factors than the WSM where the best scenarios of the AHP covers 12 cm thermal insulation alternatives by balancing the investment costs and energy efficiency levels. The paper provides insight into thermal insulation material selection while searching for the advantages and priorities of thermal insulation materials' attributes beyond the cost-optimal energy efficiency level to reach the nZEB range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To mitigate dangerous climate change, a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions is needed by 2030. Buildings contribute significantly to emissions, with the use phase of existing buildings being responsible for the majority of energy consumption. In addition, environmental problems associated with the production of raw materials, construction, and the end of life of buildings are serious concerns that require urgent solutions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and the EU-recommended Environmental Footprint (EF) are widely accepted tools to measure environmental impacts throughout a product life cycle. However, assessing the environmental performance of wooden buildings remains a challenge. This study presents a benchmark for an average new European wooden building fulfilling the European nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) requirement. The benchmark utilizes the recommended EU EF impact categories with normalization and weighting, allowing for easy and quick comparisons. The results communicate the average environmental impact per square meter of floor area over one year. This benchmark is a suitable comparison point for new wooden building designs and is used as an effective tool for architects and designers during the initial planning stages of wooden buildings. By using this benchmark, the environmental performance of the building can be improved, and the communication and interpretation of LCA results can be facilitated for customers and other relevant stakeholders.

Designing a nearly zero energy building (NZEB) and more exclusively a positive energy building (PEB) hold significant importance these days. Achieving this objective requires an effective blend of renewable systems and the energy efficient envelope. This study focuses on a villa situated in the southeast of Kerman, Iran with hot and dry summers. Commencing with the current energy-efficient design of the structure, the research conducted various analyses to explore the impacts of different strategies or alternative approaches that contribute to achieving a NZEB or PEB. The parameters examined in the analysis that pertain to the building envelope, encompass insulation scenarios, window-to-wall ratio, and glass types as passive strategies, along with the integration of wind turbine energy production as an active energy solution. The findings indicate that, under hot and dry conditions in this region, the optimal passive strategies for the case study involve a 40 % window-to-wall ratio, polyurethane insulation, and triple-layered glass with argon. This combination results in a noteworthy reduction in total annual energy consumption, decreasing from 24,344.56 kWh to 11,909.64 kWh. To offset the remaining energy requirements and transform the building into a positive energy structure, a wind turbine was employed. This integrated approach not only aligns with the specific climatic conditions of the area but also demonstrates the feasibility of achieving a positive energy building which resulted in a surplus energy of 1,414.13 kWh.

Occupant behavior is among the main causes for the mismatch between simulated and in-use energy performance of buildings. One of the strategies considered capable of reducing user's behavior induced energy consumption, while increasing indoor environmental quality is the application of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). In this study, three building user's profiles have been considered depending on their energy consumption. The energy savings due to BACS class increase have been calculated, and a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) has been performed to evaluate the feasibility of different scenarios. Additional co-benefits perceived by the individuals have been accounted for in the form of willingness-to-pay (WTP). The methodology is applied to two case studies: a nearly zero-energy building (NZEB) rural single-family house and a recently renovated dwelling in an apartment block. The results show that the main reductions are achieved by the users' behavior alone, and the adoption of BACS is economically feasible only when an incentive program is in place, and the WTP is repeated as a recurrent co-benefit over the years. In particular, relying only on energy reduction due to higher BACS class introduction is not economically desirable. The greatest savings are achieved by the behavioral change of the user when coupled with BACS, supporting their potential role in improving user's energy literacy. Finally, incentive schemes are necessary to reduce the investment costs of such projects, being these the most influential variables in the feasibility of BACS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the performance of different cooling technologies from energy and economic perspectives were evaluated for six different prototype residential Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) within a planned future city district in central Sweden. This was carried out by assessing the primary energy number and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for each building model and cooling technology. Projected future climate file representing the 2050s (mid-term future) was employed. Three cooling technologies (district cooling, compression chillers coupled/uncoupled with photovoltaic (PV) systems, and absorption chillers) were evaluated. Based on the results obtained from primary energy number and LCCA, compression chillers with PV systems appeared to be favorable as this technology depicted the least value for primary energy use and LCCA. Compared to compression chillers alone, the primary energy number and the life cycle cost were reduced by 13%, on average. Moreover, the district cooling system was found to be an agreeable choice for buildings with large floor areas from an economic perspective. Apart from these, absorption chillers, utilizing environmentally sustainable district heating, displayed the highest primary energy use and life cycle cost which made them the least favorable choice. However, the reoccurring operational cost from the LCCA was about 60 and 50% of the total life cycle cost for district cooling and absorption chillers, respectively, while this value corresponds to 80% for the compression chillers, showing the high net present value for this technology but sensitive to future electricity prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation industry now accounts for approximately a quarter of worldwide energy-related direct CO2 emissions, and governments all around the globe have committed to converting their fossil-fuel vehicles to zero-emission ones by adopting electric vehicles. Current electric vehicles (EV) can store approximately 18 to 100 kWh of energy, which may be employed not only for commuting but also for other purposes such as delivering energy to households (V2H) or buildings (V2B), as well as offering ancillary services to the power grid (V2G). In this study, a real test setting including a trending bidirectional charger, an EV, a PV simulator, and household appliances are utilized to evaluate the performance of various V2H components and to learn about the concerns that may arise during V2H operation. The results of the tests on the bidirectional EV charger are presented in this paper. Although the results of the tests on the charger installed in the house are not satisfactory and consistent to the project's goal, they are released in order to aid future studies in better understanding the true challenges of commercial bidirectional chargers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption of the buildings sector has increased dramatically over the past decade. In Egypt, existing buildings consume 60% of electrical energy. Improving existing buildings through energy retrofitting and using different techniques of integrated PV may serve as a step towards improving the energy performance in buildings in Egypt and achieving nZEB levels. This research aims to explore the potential of achieving nZEB levels through retrofitting office buildings’ typical prototypes in Cairo, Egypt, with basic designs, layouts, and orientations. In this study, 12 hypothetical office buildings (linear, square (courtyard), and L-shaped) with both open and closed plans N-S and E-W oriented were simulated using DesignBuilder. The proposed retrofitting strategy succeeded in decreasing annual energy consumption by 46%–65% for all retrofitted cases. Four retrofitted cases met the nZEB target, these are the closed squared office building oriented E-W, closed squared office building oriented N-S, the closed linear office building oriented E-W, and open-plan linear office building oriented E-W. This study may be considered prototypical to encourage policymakers to urgently enforce existing energy conservation codes and set retrofitting measures, to start a national retrofit process of existing office buildings in Egypt.

Currently, feasible construction practices are not enough to reach zero energy buildings, therefore, European Union (EU) legislation states that new buildings and renovations should be designed as "nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB)"; however, design alternatives need to be carefully considered and selected before implementation. This study aims to investigate the effect of building façade elements and energy-efficient building systems on reaching nZEB with two different design approaches (DAs). These approaches are investigated through the case of a selected office building's façade retrofit options in terms of energy efficiency and thermal comfort. In the first DA, different design variables of a double skin façade (DSF) are investigated and optimized in order to decrease the total amount of consumed energy, and the best parameters are used in the design of the south façade. In the second DA, the building retrofit aims to meet nZEB criteria by redesigning the south building façade via genetic algorithm optimization, while providing thermal comfort in all months and reducing the number of discomfort hours. The investigation is carried out via building energy simulation (BES) of a selected office building, validated by indoor and outdoor measurements. The results show that the parameters of the building façade can play a significant role in decreasing the energy consumption of the building, and both DAs decrease total energy consumption while utilizing currently feasible and common building technologies. Yet, in the second DA not only is the energy consumption lower but, it also significantly decreases discomfort hours. • The building façade plays an important role in reaching nearly zero energy buildings by retrofit. • The study investigates two design approaches to both reduce energy consumption and increase thermal comfort. • Feasible and common technologies can play a significant role in decreasing a building's energy consumption. • Double skin façades can show better performance in the Mediterranean climate when optimized by building energy simulation. • Decreasing both the number of thermal discomfort hours and energy consumption at the same time is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a multidisciplinary procedure to correctly design a microgrid of all-electric nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) from both electrical and thermal points of view. The procedure is suitable for new buildings supplied by local renewables, without the use of fossil fuel and with zero emissions. First, the thermal demand of each single nZEB is assessed, as a function of the installation site, building layout and physics, and material composing the envelope. Thanks to heat pumps, the thermal demand is transformed in electric load. Thus, the total electric consumption profiles, which include user's appliances and heating/cooling, are studied and compared with photovoltaic (PV) generation supported by electrochemical storages. Both PV and batteries are simulated, thanks to appropriate models. Regarding the PV production assessment, this work proposes an improvement with respect to the use of traditional models, and it is based on experimental results on PV generators of recent production. The design methodology is applied to a real case of “energy community” composed of three nZEB units that will be built in the campus of Politecnico di Torino, available to students and staff. The three units share PV production and storage capacity to reach the complete grid independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important building type to diminish energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry, nearly zero energy building (nZEB) has attracted much attention from many scholars, with volumes of research findings published. However, quantitative and systematic reviews on those findings are rarely conducted by researchers. Therefore, a visualized presentation regarding the advancement of nZEB research was made in this study by applying the scientometric method of co-citation analysis to 704 publications retrieved from the Web of Science database from 2006 to 2018. Here, the key conclusions drawn after the research are as follows: (1) Italy, the USA and Spain are the top three nations by the number of nZEB publications; (2) Energy and Buildings, Applied Energy and Energy are the journals with the highest number of published nZEB articles; (3) Politecnico di Milano, Aalto University and Politecnico di Torino are the most influential core organizations in the field of nZEB; (4) Professor Kurnitski J, Professor Corgnati SP and Professor D'Agostino D are the leading nZEB experts; (5) "cost optimal", "life cycle assessment", "technical system", "design" and "indoor environment quality" are the major research directions in the field of nZEB; (6) A multi-stage optimization method for cost-optimal and nearly zero-energy building solutions in line with the EPBD 2010, co-authored by Hamdy M, is the most cited nZEB reference; (7) "residential building", "building energy saving technology", "simulation method" and "thermal comfort", etc. are the hot topics in nZEB research at present and in the future. This research is designed to provide valuable information for scholars interested in the field of nZEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful design and construction processes aiming towards nearly zero energy building (nZEB) standards are a challenge for the whole construction industry in Europe. Realizing nZEB buildings requires innovative design processes, and technologies based on an integrated design approach facilitated by multidisciplinary work teams. The collaboration between architects, engineers, technical experts and building managers, is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the specific involvement of each profession in order to develop mutual understanding of each others' disciplines. Additionally, it is vital to provide professionals with the skills needed to achieve optimal nZEB construction and retrofitting in terms of quality, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. However, this approach is not yet common, as the building sector is still very fragmented. The EU-funded H2020 project PROF/TRAC aims to tackle this issue by developing an Open Training Platform and a methodology for fast and valid co-creation of interdisciplinary qualification schemes for task-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all professions involved. A common methodology for the mapping of skills and qualifications in the form of an Excel tool was developed as a basis, together with a guidance document. This paper presents the skill-mapping methodology, the use of its results to develop national roadmaps, and the BUILD UP Skills advisor app. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of great transition of the European construction sector to energy efficient and nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), a market observation containing qualitative and quantitative indications should help to fill out some of the current gaps concerning the EU 2020 carbon targets. Next to the economic challenges, there are equally important factors that hinder renovating the existing residential building stock and adding newly constructed high performance buildings. Under these circumstances this paper summarises the findings of a cross-comparative study of the societal and technical barriers of nZEB implementation in 7 Southern European countries. The study analyses the present situation and provides an overview on future prospects for nZEB in Southern Europe. The result presents an overview of challenges and provides recommendations based on available empirical evidence to further lower those barriers in the European construction sector. The paper finds that the most Southern European countries are poorly prepared for nZEB implementation and especially to the challenge/opportunity of retrofitting existing buildings. Creating a common approach to further develop nZEB targets, concepts and definitions in synergy with the climatic, societal and technical state of progress in Southern Europe is essential. The paper provides recommendations for actions to shift the identified gaps into opportunities for future development of climate adaptive high performance buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Pilots for the seasonal thermal energy storage of solar energy on a local basis are few in Finland, even if international demonstrations show that the utilization level of solar energy can exceed 50% of the annual local heat requirement in similar climate zones. This study presents options for heat and electricity generation based on local energy systems and utilizing seasonal thermal energy storages. Energy needs and production on Vartiosaari district in Helsinki in Finland were explored as a case area. The project studied the impacts of introducing solar thermal energy on local energy self-sufficiency and emissions from heating energy supply, if excess solar heat in the summer is stored using borehole thermal energy storage or tank storage for use in the winter. Around 60% self-sufficiency in heat production would have been achieved in the scenarios studied. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by around 50%, and sulphur dioxide and particulate emissions by up to 70% compared to the business-as-usual situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an original method for improving the energy performance of buildings with glazed façades. For the proposed paper we analyzed using Ansys CFD software a study case for an office building with integrated heat pipes into the glazed façades. For the complete analysis of our proposed system we realized a financial study using the RETScreen 4 Software Suite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a CFD Heat Transfer Analysis for Heat Pipes integration into Buildings with Glazed Façades. This consists into the introduction of heat pipes in the building envelope structure for taking over the heat from glazed façade cavity and transmission, respectively accumulating in the wall structure for achieving the indoor comfort parameters in winter and transitional seasons (autumn and springtime). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of buildings′ energy efficiency has advanced thanks to research carried out in recent years. Many of the discoveries in this field have recently been incorporated into mandatory construction regulations for each country. However, not many of the architects and engineers involved in the construction industry clearly know how to achieve those goals in their designs. This document is based on the extensive experience in architectural design, the integration of renewable energies, the energy simulation of buildings and data acquisition, and analysis of the research team involved. It is presented in a practical and holistic approach and focused in subtropical climates. A structured methodology for the proper decision-making process during all the different stages of a minimum energy building (MEB) is likewise presented. The proposed methodology depicted aims at providing architects and engineers with a systematic and orderly step-by-step procedure and incorporates the instrumentation/control and data analysis as essential elements that support the validation of the expected results from the design, the construction, and the operation phase of the building. The paper develops a case study that illustrates the proposed methodology. This new methodology for MEB in subtropical climates constitutes an innovation in this field.

Energy consumption in the building sector continues to increase in the entire world and therefore, the determination of cost-optimal solutions towards nearly zero-energy buildings is a serious challenge. The present study is focused on the optimal thermal features of the building envelope, including thermal insulation on wall, roof and ground floor as well as the optimal window properties, in order to achieve nearly-zero energy buildings in the climate conditions of Cyprus. A systematic and robust scientific procedure was adapted in order to determine levels of energy performance leading to minimum life-cycle cost. Energy simulations of different reference test-cell buildings were performed, based on the external envelope's surface to total building volume ratio, and the cost-optimal performance levels were calculated in accordance with Regulation 244/2012/EU, taking into consideration three different climate areas of Cyprus – the cities of Limassol and Nicosia and the mountainous area of Saittas. Both the optimal thermal transmittance coefficient of the external envelope elements and the optimal window properties for each reference test-cell building were calculated. The results demonstrate that the cost-optimal energy performance levels of reference test-cell buildings in Cyprus are considerably higher than the national minimum requirements. Moreover, a linear correlation was found between the optimal (mean) thermal transmission coefficient and the study area, a result that underlines the necessity of forming three independent climate zones in Cyprus instead of one that exists today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present case study sets out to investigate the potential and limitations of passive building design in a typical Mediterranean climate. The Maltese Islands were taken as the case study location. Assuming a fully detached, cuboid-shaped, generic multi-storey office building, one representative storey was modelled by means of the building energy simulation code WUFI®Plus. Thermal comfort was analysed based on the adaptive acceptable operative room temperature concept of EN 15251 for buildings without mechanical cooling systems. Assuming neither artificial heating nor cooling, the free-running operative room temperature was evaluated. By means of a parametric study, the robustness of the concept was analysed and the impact of orientation, window to wall area ratio, glazing, shading, thermal insulation, nighttime ventilation and thermal mass on the achievable level of thermal comfort is shown and discussed. It is concluded that in a well-designed building and by means of decent insulation (present case: Uwall = 0.54 W/(m2 · K)), double glazing, variable external shading devices and passive cooling by nighttime ventilation, a high level of thermal comfort is achievable in this climate using only very minor amounts of energy for artificial heating and cooling or possibly even none at all.

Successful design and construction processes aiming towards nearly zero energy building (nZEB) standards are a challenge for the whole construction industry in Europe. Realizing nZEB buildings requires innovative design processes, and technologies based on an integrated design approach facilitated by multidisciplinary work teams. The collaboration between architects, engineers, technical experts and building managers, is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the specific involvement of each profession in order to develop mutual understanding of each others’ disciplines. Additionally, it is vital to provide professionals with the skills needed to achieve optimal nZEB construction and retrofitting in terms of quality, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. However, this approach is not yet common, as the building sector is still very fragmented. The EU-funded H2020 project PROF/TRAC aims to tackle this issue by developing an Open Training Platform and a methodology for fast and valid co-creation of interdisciplinary qualification schemes for task-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all professions involved. A common methodology for the mapping of skills and qualifications in the form of an Excel tool was developed as a basis, together with a guidance document. This paper presents the skill-mapping methodology, the use of its results to develop national roadmaps, and the BUILD UP Skills advisor app.

In this paper, the latest progress in Turkey towards Recast Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD Recast) targets is explained. In addition, sample calculations oriented at cost optimal retrofit analysis of an existing apartment building are also presented. In order to give an initial point of view about cost optimality concept and retrofit strategies in Mediterranean climate, an apartment building is analyzed for hot humid and mild climatic regions. The scenarios which are able to represent cost optimal level are highlighted and key aspects are derived for the nZEB approach in Mediterranean climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EC programs on the energy efficiency are bound and specific in the field of energy performance of buildings, it refers to the characteristics of the building and to the use of renewable sources. In this work, starting from a real case, and represented from the Italian Pavilion of EXPO 2015, it analysed the services of a nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB), characterised by a careful design of the building, by a very efficient installation systems and by a large use of renewable sources. The aim is to focus on the energy performance of the building, pointing to some features of the building, highlighting some critical issues related to the existing legislation, providing suggestions for the improvement of legislation in the field of the energy efficiency of buildings which is constantly evolving in Italy and in Europe. This work has to represent the EXPO 2015 theme: “Feeding the planet, energy for life”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The recast Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) stipulates that by 2020 all new buildings constructed within the European Union after 2020 should reach nearly zero-energy levels. This means that in less than one decade, all new buildings will demonstrate very high energy performance and their reduced or very low energy needs will be significantly covered by renewable energy sources. Such change is affecting both the nature of the built environment as well the actual method of designing and constructing a facility. The economic feasibility to realize a sustainable construction need to have a clear support by adequate analyses connected to the energy consumption and consequently to the new target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for buildings. Life Cycle Methodologies (LCMs) are currently not considered in details on the EPBD recast, but according also to recent researches, they might be important tasks in a future recast. The paper analyses this challenge providing an overview on the main LCMs to individuate principles, limitations and implications of these approaches to design a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Non-residential buildings contribute to around 20% of the total energy consumed in Europe. This consumption continues to increase globally. Smart building proposals (focused on Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), air quality monitoring, energy saving with thermal comfort, etc.) were already necessary before 2020, and the pandemic has made this research and development area more essential. Furthermore, the need to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and obtain technological solutions based on the Internet of Things (IoT) requires holistic contributions through real installations that serve as spaces for measuring, testing, study and research. This article proposes a "measure–analyse–decide and act" methodology to quantify the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for university buildings as a reference environment for energy efficiency and COVID-19 prevention models. Two conceptual spaces (physical and digital) within two dimensions (users and infrastructures) are designated over an IoT three-level model (information acquisition, interoperable communication, and data-driven decision). An IoT ecosystem (sensoriZAR) was implemented as a proof-of-concept of a smart campus at the University of Zaragoza, Spain. Focused on CO2 and energy consumption monitoring, the results showed effectiveness through real installations, demonstrating the IoT potential as SDG-enabling technologies. These contributions allow not only experimental lab tests (from the authors' expertise in several specialties of Industrial, Mechanical, Design, Thermal, Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering) but also a reference model for direct application in academic works, research projects and institutional initiatives, extendable to professional environments, buildings and cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cooling operation of the multi-energy system (SAAC and GSHP) was discussed, three different operation configurations and their best working condition in a NZEB was analyzed. • Real energy consumption of three working modes wad analyzed and discussed. A 4025 m2 office building was built in Beijing, China, in 2014 as a living laboratory and prototype to explore the technical energy systems of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs) in China. Not only the building itself but also the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were designed with flexibility to explore their performance. Solar-assisted air conditioning (SAAC) and ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems with different terminal units were designed as HVAC systems for either experimental, comparison, or measurement purposes. In this paper, the cooling operation of multienergy systems is discussed on the basis of actual measurement data. HVAC systems have three possible types of operation configuration types, namely, SAAC priority, GSHP only and multimode. Operation scenarios for these configurations are presented first, and the small-scale simulation was carried out to analyze the performance of SAAC priority and GSHP#1 only mode. It indicates that SAAC could save about 47% of energy than that of GSHP#1. Then, the actual operation performance in 2018 was analyzed by reference to the operation data. Through this study, it is found that 1) multienergy systems of SAAC and GSHP operated well in this NZEBs during the summer season; 2) a 10 RT absorption chiller can work well for an NZEB building of approximately 1000 m2 when outdoor enthalpy is low and the solar radiation is stronger than 400 W/m2 as a result of high building thermal performance and air tightness; 3) SAAC can save about 40 to 50% of energy compared to that of GSHP system when providing services for the same terminal system under the same outdoor weather conditions and 4) The GSHP system is a good complement to the SAAC system which works well in June, September and early July when outdoor enthalpy is low. This study indicates that a combination of GSHP and SAAC systems is highly promising for NZEBs in cold climate zones such as Beijing, where the solar radiation is sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources for the purpose of heating buildings cooperate perfectly with so-called low-temperature heating systems. Water loop surface heating systems had been thoroughly tested. In contrast, thermal performance of wall panels with heat pipes have not been fully recognized, yet. The determination of the thermal power as well as the control of panels thermal performance cannot be performed with the methods developed for water loop systems. In this paper, the novel heating panels with heat pipes were tested to analyze the possibility of controlling their performance by changing the mass flowrate of heating water and its temperature. Specific heating power of the investigated panels varies from 16.9 W/m2 to 93.8 W/m2 when supplying a water temperature ranging from 35 °C to 65 °C and mass flowrate from 10 g/s to 47.5 g/s. Investigations revealed that the thermal performance of the panels is more sensitive to the changes of temperature than to the changes of mass flowrate of supplying water, and thus, should be controlled by changing the supply water temperature at low mass flowrates to obtain a low energy usage of pumps (diminished pressure losses) and good quality of controlling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) introduced the requirement for all Member States to include the concept of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) in their national plans. However, this challenge requires upgrading professional skills in NZEB concepts and strategies, thus guaranteeing the maximum impact on NZEB deployment around Europe. This is the objective of MEnS ("Meeting Energy Professional Skills"), an H2020 project focused on providing high quality upskilling and education to architects, engineers, and building professionals. The role of women in the NZEB industry indicates that female participation in the building industry is still low. The need to rebalance this gender gap is highlighted in this work through the identification of female programs and schemes. In addition, the results of women's participation in the MEnS project is analyzed. The MEns project created and implemented a new education program, training 1200 building managers (engineers and architects) in the designand construction of NZEBs, out of which 46% were women. Focusing on the Spanish case, 18 interviews were randomly conducted with women participants in order to assess the courses and their expectations of employment in the NZEB framework. The method used for the analysis was a semi-structured interview and analysis by the grounded theory. This article describes the participation of women in this educational program and analyses initial conclusions and lessons learnt from this initiative in 10 European countries, including Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]