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It is now widely accepted that greenhouse gas emissions of buildings need to be dramatically reduced in high-income countries such as the United Kingdom in order to achieve climate-change-mitigation targets. This process will entail major... more
It is now widely accepted that greenhouse gas emissions of buildings need to be dramatically reduced in high-income countries such as the United Kingdom in order to achieve climate-change-mitigation targets. This process will entail major changes to the housing stock, with consequential effects on exposure to cold, heat, and a range of indoor pollutants. Some of these transformations will have positive health impacts whereas others have the potential for negative health repercussions. In this chapter we consider the nature of those changes and the implications for health and wellbeing, drawing largely on evidence for the United Kingdom.
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In support of the movement towards the integration of modelling in the building design process, a unified software-based methodology for the demonstration of compliance with energy performance standards was introduced in the UK Building... more
In support of the movement towards the integration of modelling in the building design process, a unified software-based methodology for the demonstration of compliance with energy performance standards was introduced in the UK Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (England and Wales). This paper reports the conclusions drawn from a longitudinal two-stage industry survey undertaken at key implementation stages of the methodology to gauge industry adaptability in accommodating the new requirements followed by subsequent in-depth interviews with relevant professionals to explore the challenges associated with application and enforcement. Key findings include shortcomings in the technical capabilities of accredited software, the quantification of the effect of their shortcomings on user assessment of the methodology and the lack of clarity and consistency of enforcement. Practical application: This work provides an analysis of the adaptive capability of the UK construction industry in accommodating integrated energy performance modelling as a legislative requirement associated with performance based standards. The analysis of firsthand feedback from practitioners involved in the implementation of the new regulatory requirements provides both an overview of key industry indicators and detailed insights into the practical implementation and enforcement of the methodology, the feedback of which is used to establish future priorities and improvements for future regulatory revisions.
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A wide range of residential sector energy models have been developed in recent years to determine energy demand and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and to evaluate energy saving policies. However, modelling outputs are subject to... more
A wide range of residential sector energy models have been developed in recent years to determine energy demand and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and to evaluate energy saving policies. However, modelling outputs are subject to significant variations due to multiple sources of uncertainty, primarily stemming from input parameters and assumptions. This study aims to assess the transferability of the Transferable Energy Model (TREM) and quantify the prediction uncertainty of residential sector energy demand until 2030 in four case study countries (Australia, Chile, United Kingdom and the United States). TREM is able to determine the future annual energy demand in the residential sector according to the area of energy use (space heating, hot water provision, cooking, electrical appliances, lighting), whilst quantifying uncertainties in the results. Significant variations (between −12% and +63%) in residential energy demand in the year 2030 with respect to 2010 were found among the case study countries, suggesting that single total energy demand estimates are associated with considerable uncertainties. This paper also presents a comprehensive database of the range of possible variations in residential energy demand related to a wide range of energy saving measures in each case study country.
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The thermal performance of adaptive building envelopes can be evaluated using building performance simulation tools. Simulation capabilities and accuracy in predicting the dynamic behaviour of adaptive building envelopes can be enhanced... more
The thermal performance of adaptive building envelopes can be evaluated using building performance simulation tools. Simulation capabilities and accuracy in predicting the dynamic behaviour of adaptive building envelopes can be enhanced through co-simulation. However, it is unclear how accurately co-simulation can predict the performance of adaptive building envelopes and how the accuracy of adaptive building envelope models created in co-simulation setups can be assessed and validated. Therefore, this study presents new evidence on the empirical validation of co-simulation setups for adaptive building envelopes by establishing an assessment framework to determine the extent to which they can accurately represent the real world. The framework was applied to a case study to validate a co-simulation setup for a blind automation system using monitored data from MATELab, a full-scale outdoor test facility with realistic indoor and outdoor conditions. The validation of the co-simulation ...
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Cities are complex urban systems with dynamic transformations in their socio-economic and environmental dimensions. Several studies have shed light on the fragility of the urban heritage and the strategies of its conservation. The... more
Cities are complex urban systems with dynamic transformations in their socio-economic and environmental dimensions. Several studies have shed light on the fragility of the urban heritage and the strategies of its conservation. The historic urban landscape (HUL) approach is a new framework adopted by UNESCO to deal with urban heritage. This article aims to apply the HUL approach to the rehabilitation and management of Beirut historic neighbourhoods impacted by the massive Beirut port explosion, focusing on Armenia Street in the Mar Mikhael neighbourhood as a case study. The application of the HUL framework allows for the re-evaluation of heritage not as an individual physical form but as an urban fabric interconnected to the city, inclusive of its cultural, social, architectural, and urban layers. The article investigates the application of the four tools identified within HUL recommendations—(1) regulatory systems, (2) community engagement, (3) planning, and (4) financial tools—by p...
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The Egyptian government is currently constructing a new governmental quarter in the New Administrative Capital City, located east of Cairo. A planned relocation for all ministerial authorities to the New Capital City will leave a vacant... more
The Egyptian government is currently constructing a new governmental quarter in the New Administrative Capital City, located east of Cairo. A planned relocation for all ministerial authorities to the New Capital City will leave a vacant governmental estate in Cairo. The study of the energy retrofit options provides a unique opportunity to reduce energy use and maximize the benefit from the anticipated investment in the re-use to be implemented within this stock. However, energy retrofit was found to be under-researched in the Egyptian context. This paper presents a pilot study that aims to identify cost optimal retrofit strategies for one of the soon to be vacated buildings, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Using DesignBuilder, an energy modelling study was implemented to estimate the existing performance of the building, assess the projected performance after a change of use (to an office building), and evaluate the cost optimality and the savings...
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Research Interests: Engineering, Epidemiology, Architecture, Building Surveying, Heat Transfer, and 15 moreBuilding Energy Simulation, Built Environment, Building Physics, Dynamic Thermal Simulation of Buildings, Heat and Mass Transfer, Bayesian estimation, Energy demand, Building, Certification, Buildings Monitoring, Performance Gap in Retrofit, Performance Gap in New Build, In Situ Measurements, BUILDING INFORMATION, and Thermal Mass
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Between May 2011 and July 2012, the UCL Energy Institute (UCL-Energy), working in partnership with the Institute for Sustainability, undertook a post-occupancy evaluation study on a sample of the projects funded by the Technology Strategy... more
Between May 2011 and July 2012, the UCL Energy Institute (UCL-Energy), working in partnership with the Institute for Sustainability, undertook a post-occupancy evaluation study on a sample of the projects funded by the Technology Strategy Board’s Retrofit for the Future (R4tF) programme in London.1 The core aim of the programme was to reduce the carbon emissions of existing homes by a minimum of 80% (Technology Strategy Board 2009) while providing affordable warmth for the occupants. Eight projects (comprising ten houses) were selected for the sample from the 25 London projects funded by the R4tF programme. House types chosen included semi-detached, detached and terraced properties built between the late 19th and late 20th centuries. Households were selected for social and economic diversity. This report presents analysis and findings from responses to semi-structured post-occupancy interviews with ten selected households (referred to as Cases A, B1–3, C, D, E, F, G and H in table 1...
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It is now widely accepted that greenhouse gas emissions of buildings need to be dramatically reduced in high-income countries such as the United Kingdom in order to achieve climate-change-mitigation targets. This process will entail major... more
It is now widely accepted that greenhouse gas emissions of buildings need to be dramatically reduced in high-income countries such as the United Kingdom in order to achieve climate-change-mitigation targets. This process will entail major changes to the housing stock, with consequential effects on exposure to cold, heat, and a range of indoor pollutants. Some of these transformations will have positive health impacts whereas others have the potential for negative health repercussions. In this chapter we consider the nature of those changes and the implications for health and wellbeing, drawing largely on evidence for the United Kingdom.
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Building performance simulation tools commonly offer several algorithm options for most heat transfer processes being modelled. The impact of this choice on indoor overheating risk, assessed using the criteria described in the CIBSE... more
Building performance simulation tools commonly offer several algorithm options for most heat transfer processes being modelled. The impact of this choice on indoor overheating risk, assessed using the criteria described in the CIBSE Technical Memorandum 59, was quantified for a naturally ventilated dwelling archetype in two popular tools. By selecting nondefault algorithm options, the predicted overheating risk changed from high to low for 33% of the cases in tool A and doubled the predicted overheating hours in certain rooms in tool B. Given these findings, modellers should carefully decide on the algorithms being used and publish them for increased transparency.
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Hospitals are an energy intensive building type for which high energy costs and sector carbon targets increasingly prompt attempts to reduce operational energy use. But evidence is sparse and generic one-fits all solutions are problematic... more
Hospitals are an energy intensive building type for which high energy costs and sector carbon targets increasingly prompt attempts to reduce operational energy use. But evidence is sparse and generic one-fits all solutions are problematic due to the complexity and the differing specifications of hospitals. This study therefore focusses on departments as unit of analysis. Five department types (operating theatres, laboratories, day clinics, imaging departments and wards) with differing energy intensities, operating hours and at different stages within the patient pathway are investigated across three case study hospitals of different building age and size (11 departments in total). Detailed audits of installations and use are undertaken to attribute measured departmental electricity use to different end-uses. It is found that lighting loads are dominant in low energy intensity department types, while intensive department types have high loads for specialist ventilation and laboratory...
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This paper investigates the effect of urban areas on local climate by examining the correlation between urban morphology, land use and urban thermal climates. It focuses on Gemmayzeh area in Beirut. Urban parameters were evaluated by... more
This paper investigates the effect of urban areas on local climate by examining the correlation between urban morphology, land use and urban thermal climates. It focuses on Gemmayzeh area in Beirut. Urban parameters were evaluated by developing an energy balance model with the aim of understanding how heterogeneous geometry, height, and finishing material can change the mechanical and thermal structure of the urban atmosphere. It simulates the current urban condition in order to compare it with other scenarios using ENVI-met 4.The results from the numerical simulation reveal that a network of green infrastructure connecting the existing green patches can ameliorate heat extraction and improve the outdoor thermal comfort level. The PMV value at the pedestrian level is reduced from extreme heat stress to moderate heat stress near the green areas. The study concludes that Beirut city center can mitigate the urban heat island by using vegetation and especially green roofs and densificat...
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11 Energy simulation tools have a major role in the assessment of building energy retrofit (BER) 12 measures. Exergoeconomic analysis and optimisation is a common practice in sectors such 13 as the power generation and chemical processes,... more
11 Energy simulation tools have a major role in the assessment of building energy retrofit (BER) 12 measures. Exergoeconomic analysis and optimisation is a common practice in sectors such 13 as the power generation and chemical processes, aiding engineers to obtain more energy14 efficient and cost-effective energy systems designs. ExRET-Opt, a retrofit-oriented modular15 based dynamic simulation framework has been developed by embedding a comprehensive 16 exergy/exergoeconomic calculation method into a typical open-source building energy 17 simulation tool (EnergyPlus). The aim of this paper is to show the decomposition of ExRET18 Opt by presenting modules, submodules and subroutines used for the framework’s 19 development as well as verify the outputs with existing research data. In addition, the possibility 20 to perform multi-objective optimisation analysis based on genetic-algorithms combined with 21 multi-criteria decision making methods was included within the simulation frame...