Energy audit of 1900s buildings for sustainable renovation

Abstract

Abstract This project focuses on the dynamic modelling of two buildings: a school and a public building, both located in the Basilicata and Puglia regions. In order to define the passive energy requirement of the building and propose some energy efficiency solutions, an energy diagnosis was conducted in dynamic settings on these structures. The EnergyPlus™ calculation code is the method utilized for energy diagnosis in the dynamic regime. The dynamic technique enables simulation of real-world building circumstances and plant design based on real-world requirements and building management. Both buildings have significant historical significance, therefore improving their energy efficiency must take this into account. In the design of energy efficiency solutions, the enclosure’s properties are critical. It is the primary source of heat loss and sunlight gain, and it has an impact on indoor comfort. It is vital to consider often contradicting features of the building’s casing, such as heating, cooling, and natural and artificial lighting, when designing the building’s casing. For example, large levels of natural light must be allowed without excessive solar gains during the summer while still ensuring an acceptable quantity of solar earnings during the winter to reduce heating loads. As a result, the efficient configuration can’t just look at one element at a time; it has to look at all of them at the same time, taking into account all of the interactions between the many sources of energy usage. Thermo-hygrometric comfort is another factor to consider when it comes to protecting the human condition. The goal of integrated design for a long-term major redevelopment is to establish the best balance between energy efficiency and environmental burdens, not just during the operational period, but throughout the life cycle. During the redesign process, resources such as life cycle analysis (LCA - Life Cycle Assessment) can be used to objectively quantify the possible environmental implications of new materials, systems, and energy flows (from their supply up to future disposal scenarios at the end of life). Furthermore, by comparing several project options, it is possible to identify which, with the same energy efficiency, causes the least environmental damage. Economic and social sustainability analyses can also be combined. Modern building relief techniques (geometric, material, and thermal) were applied in this study for energy diagnosis and LCA analysis to determine the optimal design options for environmental impacts. The thermal power plants that the solution proposes are completely integrated within the buildings in which they will be put and manage to ensure a perfect mix of energy savings, economic savings, and environmental sustainability.