An exergoeconomic-based parametric study to examine the effects of active and passive energy retrofit strategies for buildings

Abstract

The paper describes a systematic framework that uses exergoeconomic theory integrated into 'building energy retrofit' (BER) design. An exergoeconomic module, based on the SPECO method, has been embedded into 'EXRETOpt', a recently developed retrofit-oriented exergy simulation tool based on EnergyPlus. Both active and passive technologies were analysed using two calibrated archetype non-domestic buildings as case studies (an office and a primary school). A novel cost-benefit indicator which accounts for building exergy destruction cost, retrofit annual capital cost, and project annual revenue is presented. This indicator is employed to account for best exergoeconomic performance technologies and to further develop deep BER packages. Compared to typical practice, exergoeconomics combined with cost-benefit provides a powerful tool for exploration and design improvement of building energy systems. In both cases, final product cost for heating and cooling processes were substantially reduced. In addition, the office case presented improvements in energy use by 67%, CO2 emissions by 53%, thermal comfort by 22%, exergy destructions by 42%, and the overall building exergy efficiency was improved from 14.8% to 20.0%. The school case presented similar results with an improvement of building exergy efficiency from 8.2% to 11.1%, and the potential to generate income due to current government incentives.

Transdisciplinarity in energy retrofit. A Conceptual Framework

“…The focus of this learning is to develop a better understanding of collaboration in a complex built environment. (Gianfrate et al 2017), (van Krugten et al 2016), (Broto 2015), (Cosmi et al 2015), (Dall'O' et al 2013), Head 2010 (Fonseca et al 2016), (Glackin and Dionisio 2016), (Dixon et al 2014), (Eames et al 2013), (Mills 2003 (Cao et al 2017), (Heidarinejad et al 2017), (R. Wu et al 2017), (Alwan 2016), (García Kerdan et al 2016), (Marasco and Kontokosta 2016), (Munarim and Ghisi 2016), (Bomberg, Gibson, and Zhang 2015), (De Lieto Vollaro et al 2015), (Dineen, Rogan, and Ó Gallachóir 2015), (Hsu 2015), (Fawcett and Killip 2014), (Wang et al 2014) (Mohareb et al 2017), (Roberti et al 2017), (Parker et al 2017), (Gupta and Gregg 2016), (Tianzhen Hong et al 2016), (Terés-Zubiaga et al 2016), (Yan et al 2015), (Rhodes et al 2015), (Tianzhen Hong et al 2014), …”

“…( García Kerdan et al, 2016) a systematic framework that uses exergoeconomic theory integrated into 'building energy retrofit' (BER) design. (Marasco and Kontokosta, 2016) the ways to utilize available data to target ECMs across a city's entire building stock (Munarim and Ghisi, 2016) a prospect of environmental indicators to evaluate the feasibility of architectural rehabilitation (Bomberg, Gibson and Zhang, 2015) the need for an active role for building physics in the development of near-zero energy buildings.…”

Thermodynamic and thermal comfort optimisation of a coastal social house considering the influence of the thermal breeze

“…The exergetic analysis is mainly based on the work from the ECB-Annex 49 methodology [57], while the exergoeocnomic analysis is based on the SPECO method developed by Lazzaretto and Tsatsaronis [77]. Both methods were further improved and adapted for whole building energy systems in García Kerdan et al [78]. An overview of the main exergy calculation method can be found in Appendix A.…”

Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic analysis of a non-domestic Passivhaus retrofit

“…The modelling tool has embedded a comprehensive techno-economic retrofit database, which will be used to assess the economic characteristics of the Passivhaus design. Equations for dynamic exergy analysis and exergoeconomic analysis method have been outlined previously [38,39].…”

“…In ExRET-Opt, exergoeconomic analysis and Life Cycle Cost analysis (LCCA) were combined, allowing the use of exergy and cost accounting in the evaluation of retrofit designs. This combination was achieved by relating energy and cost information with the SPECO method [42], delivering a novel return of investment indicator based on exergy, the exergoeconomic cost-benefit index ( ) [39]. This index is calculated as follows:…”