Introductory Review of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Retrofits

Fernandes, Joana; Santos, Maria Catarina; Castro, Rui

doi:10.3390/en14238100

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Energy-efficient retrofits often have advanced technologies and features that can enhance performance and functionality. In [61], the authors used a multi-criteria decision analysis including location, climate, and operational and embodied energy, but not limited to architectural constraints, control, and management from a life cycle analysis perspective. They found that retrofitting the building envelope, lighting fixtures, and HVAC equipment can be an effective energy efficiency solution.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Energy Efficiency Opportunities for a Public Transportation Maintenance Facility—A Case Study

Higgins,

Ramnarayan,

Family

et al. 2024

Energies

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A comprehensive energy audit of a light rail maintenance facility was performed to assess its energy performance and identify potential scope for improvements. The facility’s energy use intensity (EUI) for 2022 was 404 kWh/m2—more than double the benchmark EUI for maintenance facilities (151 kWh/m2) recommended by EnergyStar. Furthermore, the load factor was 0.22—significantly lower than the recommended minimum of 0.75 for an efficient building. The energy audit encompassed an in-depth evaluation of the facility’s structural and operational characteristics, comprising HVAC systems, lighting, the building envelope, and energy-intensive machinery. An energy model of the facility was developed to emulate the facility’s energy performance in 2022. Following the energy model’s validation, an analysis was conducted to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency. Post-implementation of energy efficiency measures for the facility, the projected annual reductions are 1086 MWh of electricity, 5034 GJ of natural gas, utility savings of USD 162,402, and net GHG emissions reductions of 584 metric tons of CO2e. A subsequent 30% reduction in EUI to 283.6 kWh/m2 could be achieved with an 86% improvement in load factor, that is, increasing it from 0.22 to 0.41. This study emphasizes the need for energy audits and modeling for maintenance facilities to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Energy Efficiency Opportunities for a Public Transportation Maintenance Facility—A Case Study

Higgins,

Ramnarayan,

Family

et al. 2024

Energies

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“…Other technical approaches to energy-efficient building retrofits included law regulation, financial incentives, and practical considerations (performance-based architectural design) [84]. The current mandatory building energy regulations in certain regions (e.g., the hot summer-cold winter region of China) were deemed insufficient to achieve significantly lower carbon emissions, suggesting the need for more ambitious regulations [85].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Retrofitting Strategies for Energy Efficiency in Tropical Climates: A Systematic Review and Analysis

Chung-Camargo,

González,

Chen Austin

et al. 2024

Buildings

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The global construction industry significantly contributes to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating immediate action for sustainable development. Recognizing the impact of buildings on emissions, the United Nations has set ambitious energy-related goals for 2030. Retrofitting buildings emerges as a strategic method for reducing energy consumption, offering lower environmental impact and life cycle costs. However, retrofitting is a complex process influenced by diverse factors such as policies, available resources, techniques, building-specific data, and uncertainties. Thus, this paper reviews the existing literature on retrofitting strategies for tropical and humid climates to identify effective approaches for enhancing energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and overall building performance in these regions. Through comprehensive analyses, including bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer version 1.6.18 and systematic assessments, this study investigates various retrofitting strategies. This study categorizes tropical climates into Af (Tropical Rainforest Climate) and Aw (Tropical Savanna Climate) based on the Köppen climate classification. It reveals distinct emphases, with Af climates concentrating on office buildings and Aw climates prioritizing residential structures. Passive strategies were predominantly favored in office buildings, with glazing being the most commonly implemented approach. Residential structures, on the other hand, adopted a combination of passive strategies such as phase change materials along with active methods like appliance replacement. Educational buildings tended to rely on passive strategies, including roof covers, shading, and glazing. The absence of specific cost values underscores the importance of establishing baseline metrics, revealing significant challenges in retrofit techniques. This study further highlights an opportunity to explore passive methods in educational buildings, stressing the need for comprehensive guidelines, especially in institutional settings. Moreover, it emphasizes the urgency for ambitious regulations to address carbon emissions and optimize energy efficiency in tropical climates.

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“…In this present study, we will review the use of AI technology in buildings to improve energy management and IEQ. Over the years, several reviews and studies have been carried out on improving energy management and IEQ in buildings using different methods [21][22][23][24][25]. Recent strides in technology have led to increasing interest in the use of AI, ML, and related technology to achieve better and more reliable results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review on the Use of AI for Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings

Ogundiran,

Asadi,

Gameiro da Silva

2024

Sustainability

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Global warming, climate change and the energy crisis are trending topics around the world, especially within the energy sector. The rising cost of energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global temperatures stem from the over-reliance on fossil fuel as the major energy resource. These challenges have highlighted the need for alternative energy resources and urgent intervention strategies like energy consumption reduction and improving energy efficiency. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in a building accounts for about 70% of energy consumption, and a decision to reduce energy consumption may impact the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of the building. It is important to adequately balance the tradeoff between IEQ and energy management. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions are being explored for improving building energy performance without compromising IEQ. This paper systematically reviews recent studies on AI and machine learning (ML) for building energy management and IEQ by exploring common use areas, the methods or algorithms applied and the results obtained. The overall purpose of this research is to add to the existing body of work and to highlight energy-related AI applications in buildings and the related gaps. The result shows five common application areas: thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) control; energy management and energy consumption prediction; indoor temperature prediction; anomaly detection; and HVAC controls. Gaps involving policy, real-life scenario applications, and insufficient study of the visual and acoustic comfort areas are also identified. Very few studies take into consideration the need to follow IEQ standards in the selection process and positioning of sensors in AI applications for IEQ in buildings. This study reveals a need for more systematically summarized research.

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Introductory Review of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Retrofits

Cited by 17 publications

References 77 publications

Analysis of Energy Efficiency Opportunities for a Public Transportation Maintenance Facility—A Case Study

Analysis of Energy Efficiency Opportunities for a Public Transportation Maintenance Facility—A Case Study

Advances in Retrofitting Strategies for Energy Efficiency in Tropical Climates: A Systematic Review and Analysis

A Systematic Review on the Use of AI for Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings

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