This work presents the results of the environmental monitoring of some rooms of the "La Specola" Museum in Florence, affected by significant overheating problem in summer mainly due to the absence of efficient solar shadings. The elaboration and analysis of the microclimatic data have been carried out according to the Italian Standard UNI 10829 and the Performance Index of the most important thermo hygrometric parameters has been calculated and assessed. This analysis shows that temperature and RH conditions were not reasonably acceptable for the preservation of the kind of objects exhibited. In order to reduce this problem, solar gain control solutions (shadings and solar control glasses) has been analysed with a dynamic thermal simulation tool for two sample rooms, as a possible solution to improve architectural integration with the historical context. In order to reduce the risk of damage, the evaluation of different strategies has been expressed in terms of the reduction of energy need for space cooling and in terms of the ability to control dry bulb temperature values. The results can be extended to several historical buildings, where large windows and skylights cause high energy consumption and poor indoor environmental conditions that can cause damage to the artefacts.
Abstract:Residential buildings built after the Second World War have high energy consumption and inadequate thermal comfort, especially in summer conditions, largely attributable to the high transmittance of windows and lack of effective shading devices. Performance improvement of these components is essential for energy upgrading of existing buildings. This paper shows the results of the research, which aims to evaluate effects on energy consumption and environmental comfort of combined solutions of windows and shading devices applied to a case study representing a typical post World War II Italian building. In this paper, the main typologies of solar control systems are described and evaluated on the basis of a case study in different climatic locations (Berlin, Milan, Florence and Athens). Thermal behavior has been assessed through the EnergyPlus dynamic calculation code, by using appropriate performance indicators for energy and thermal sensation. Starting from performance evaluation of the existing building, different strategies have been assessed: replacement of existing windows with high-energy performance ones and introduction of shading devices and solar control glasses. Finally, a global comparative analysis has been carried out based on energy, acoustic and lighting performances, technical feasibility and management problems. Results of the different solar shading devices assessment are reported in the form of a data sheet.
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