Pakistan and its region are home to some of the largest and most complex industrial and infrastructure projects in the world.  These projects deliver world class outputs for multinational giants. And when working with giants, time and quality is of the essence.  This presentation will highlight some  of the challenges and opportunities that can be faced when commissioing large scale industiral projects in a design-build execution model and when energy and resources are pricey and scarce.

The Middle East, especially Suadi Arabia and the Gulf Coast have been growing in leaps and bounds.  Despite the region being an energy bonanza there has been great interest in alternative energy, efficiency and performance.  Commissioning is key to those objectives. This program will highlight some of the key features of commissioning in such a dynamic environment.

The first part of this presentation explores the relationship between tall buildings and energy use by examining the publically available data from municipal energy benchmarking ordinances. The analysis of this data examines correlations between building size, age, utility profiles and energy consumption.  The second portion of the presentation compares city benchmarking and CBECS data sets against a pool of newly designed/constructed tall building energy model simulations. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the simulated performance against actual consumption in order to better understand trends in new tall building design as well as assess if these simulations are reasonable representations of actual tall building performance.

Do tall buildings consume more energy per square foot than typical buildings? According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, more buildings exceeding 200 m in height were constructed in 2014 than ever before. Is this increase in height accompanied by an increased EUI? Energy benchmarking data from New York and Chicago, two of America’s tall-building giants, is used to approach the question from an empirical perspective. Full building energy simulations are presented to approach the question from a modeling perspective. Governing principles of heat transfer, fluid dynamics and building physics are presented to approach the question from a theoretical perspective. Lastly, the audience is engaged to debate and settle the question for good.

This presentation intends to offer an overview about the key challenges facing the air-conditioning industry in high-ambient countries in meeting global and national environmental and energy commitments while examining new low-GWP alternatives. The introduction of debates about key definitions like high ambient and low-GWP will be also discussed as part of different perspectives and views. The presentation will also include the driving forces and key objectives of the UNEP-UNIDO PRAHA project and its relation to other testing and research work.

The core component of UNEP/UNIDO project for promoting low-GWP alternatives in high-ambient countries is building and testing prototypes by local OEMs with the support of several international technology providers. The presentation introduces the findings of the testing of the prototypes developed under the project for four different categories of air-conditioning applications using four different types of alternative refrigerants. Detailed background on the testing methodology, design limitations and the criteria for selecting the capacities, refrigerants and design parameters are included in the presentation. The presentation also reflects the technical challenges the project faced while building and testing the prototypes.

PRAHA project went beyond building and testing prototypes, with alternative refrigerants, that can work efficiently in high-ambient conditions. This presentation introduces the work and findings for assessing the impact of relevant energy efficiency standards on the process of refrigerant selection, examining the economic factors that could affect the decision of adopting low-GWP alternatives, understanding barriers to ease the technology transfer and facilitate transferring the sound use of alternatives in the air-conditioning industry. The presentation also includes key findings and outcomes about examining how using the district cooling applications can reduce dependency on high/higher GWP alternatives and promote not-in-kind technologies.

The main objective of PRAHA project is to assist the process of decision making at government and industry levels in high ambient countries. This presentation includes the key messages concluded from PRAHA project concerning many policy and technical aspects that need to be considered by the respective decision makers at both levels. Discussion includes key recommendations related to comprehensive risk assessment, the need of the servicing sector, the introduction of relevative standards and codes, and and the introduction of incentives for the industry and end-users.

As a result of numerous pilot projects conducted all over the world, it was demonstrated that energy use reduction in commercial and public buildings can been reduced by more than 50% after renovation, and that some renovated buildings have met the Passive House Institute energy efficiency standard or even Net Zero energy state [1].  This paper summarizes the results of these studies. To evaluate cost effectiveness of deep energy retrofit (DER) using “core technologies” bundle, compared to typical building renovation based on minimum energy requirements, the paper proposes the use of net present value (NPV) of the difference in energy savings to estimate the budget increase limit. Since most of parameters required for LCC analysis differ not only by the individual country but also within the country (first costs and labor rates, energy rates, life of the project, inflation and discount rates, etc.), the concept of Scalar Ratio [8] is used to calculate limitations in renovation budget increase.

This paper presents the results of computational modeling analysis conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center team of two categories of buildings with relatively low internal loads in 15 U.S. climates using the Net Zero Planner tool. This tool enabled simultaneous simulation of multiple building types and multiple technology bundles of energy efficiency measures in different climate zones. This research supported development of requirements for building envelope characteristics for DER projects. Information presented in the paper along with results of similar studies conducted in Denmark, Estonia, Austria, Germany, China, and UK [2,3,4] for their nation-specific climate conditions have been used to develop general guidelines for technology bundles to be used in DER projects [5].

International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Program Annex 61 focuses on developing and demonstrating financial and technical concepts for deep energy retrofits of public buildings. A first and important step to define the methodology is to examine the economic aspects of deep energy retrofits in each of the participating countries. Estonia, Germany, Canada, Austria and Denmark have conducted a series of simulations in order to determine the economic conditions in the renovation of a pre- 1980s building. The analysis shows how deep renovation solutions and economic conditions differ from country to country and emphasizes the individual economic challenges of deep energy renovation. The analysis will be used in developing and demonstrating new and alternative funding mechanisms for a deep renovation project. This paper describes results for northern Europe, i.e. Estonia and Denmark.

Within EBC Annex 61: Business and Technical Concepts for Deep Energy Retrofit of Public Buildings are developed to increase pace and quality of DER projects in the public sector. Subtask A targets is to assess accomplished DER projects to define find optimized bundles both from energy efficiency and economical perspective in each of the participating countries. Based on general assumptions defined by the Annex 61 team, modeling studies for different types of buildings and different climate zones have been done. The paper describes the base lining and modeling process, the economic assumptions made for energy prizes, maintenance and other operating costs and consider the investment costs, the cost optimization process and the carbon footprint of the scenarios. The measure bundles resulting from the modeling are described.

This paper introduces a systematic approach to define a lighting replacement strategy that comprises the following: lighting type, location, efficacy, cost and service classification. The paper also presents an actual life-cycle cost example as a decision support tool to evaluate replacement cost effectiveness. Study results highlight the significant role lighting replacement can play to meet target energy consumption and reductions in CO2 emissions. The approach proposed in this paper can be adopted by organizations operating under similar environments that want to showcase their leadership in energy efficiency and environmental compliance.

Climate has a major impact on energy use in buildings, especially in Saudi Arabia. Due to the complexities of the Saudi Building Code, Energy Conservation Requirements (SBC-601) and the lack of a simple building science-based climate zone map for Saudi Arabia, neither builders nor designers have been able to demonstrate code compliance, and neither have the authorities having jurisdiction been able to mandate code enforcement properly.  As a result, 70% of Saudi Arabian homes are today, for example, not insulated, which results in the consumption of nearly 52% of electrical power generated. This study explains the details of how the above-mentioned shortcomings can be addressed through development of a Kingdom-specific climate zone map online tool, which characterizes the SBC 601 minimum prescriptive energy efficiency performance requirements for residential and nonresidential buildings envelopes. The study also highlights the significant role this tool can play in facilitating code compliance and gives examples of the potential energy savings.

ASHRAE 90.1 is an energy standard for buildings except low-rise residential buildings. It provides minimum design and construction requirements for most types of Residential and Commercial buildings and their systems. The objective of this technical paper is to analyze and assess, some of the building envelope values in ASHRAE 90.1 such as wall, roof, and glazing, using building energy modelling simulation techniques for different regions in the Middle East. A comparative analysis is made for thermal conductivity (U) values of walls, roof,  glazing, and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), based on the results from building energy modelling simulation, to analyse the energy consumption and energy savings potential and obtain optimised values for these parameters relevant to the Middle Eastern region. Also, a comparative analysis is made to examine the performance of building envelope values with Residential and Commercial buildings.

The energy utilization index (EUI) is commonly used to describe a building's energy performance. This index is not without shortcomings, as it does not adequately address issues such as space utilization, occupant density, or irreducible process loads. This paper explores the use of a bottom-up approach for energy benchmarking, both for design optimization and portfolio analysis, utilizing a concept known as energy usage effectiveness (EUE). The EUE metric is based on the ratio of a building's total energy use divided by an adapted calculation of process energy use. Benchmark EUE values will be calculated based on the Department of Energy's Commercial Reference Building's for new construction, existing buildings "post-1980" and existing buildings "pre-1980s." The full range of ASHRAE climate ones will be represented for all of the major building types available. EUE will be compared to calculated EUI, to highlight correlations and divergences in the outcome data. The EUE concept will also be applied to data from a heavily sub-metered high-performance building, as well as public data published in ASHRAE high-performance building case studies. Discussion will include possible ways for ASHRAE Standard 90.1 to be adapted to utilize EUE and further rolled into green construction codes.

The UK has embarked upon an ambitious program to rebuild its aging stock of schools and universities through a combination of refurbishment, upgrade and new build. Whilst the driver has been to transform education for the better, key issues have been to improve IEQ for better productivity and reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. This presentation shows how the HVAC approach has evolved to deliver to ambitious targets and to proactively support education through knowledge having, exemplar construction and student portals into BMS.

This method features an “enclosed demolition space” constructed on top of the building, where all demolition work is carried out. This helps exclude noise propagation and prevents dust from being scattered throughout the city neighborhood. In addition, it can achieve a better work environment. There are trade-off relations among these factors, so it is important to design natural ventilation appropriately. Two demolition projects helped prove the ability to reduce noise levels (by 20dB), prevent the dispersion of dust (by about 80%) and improve the thermal environment (by minus 2 degree in WBGT).

In a large compound tenant building, within which a district heating and cooling system is introduced, we focused on the considerable water transport consumption and reduced it. We investigated the existing facilities and determined the situation. The method used for water transport was changed from direct to indirect method as well as a planned reduction in energy by devising pump selection and control. Moreover, the management company, designers, builders, manufacturers collaborated on a plan and helped reduce the large conveyance energy of 74%.

For this renovation, several energy-conservation measures with adequate effectiveness and proven performance were installed. In addition, when planning this retrofit, we implemented thermal sensation votes and occupant detection devices to control the air-conditioning system based on occupants’ behavior. An expanded BEMS, the purpose of which was to enable interactive communication between occupants and facility managers, was also established to consider the occupants’ lifestyle. Furthermore, a cooling room was installed near an entrance to remove body thermal storage after outdoor activity in summer. Consequently, this renovation achieved 28% energy-conservation.

The concept of a sustainable society and urban regeneration was pursued with three keywords in this project; the global environment, human beings and local connections. Various new environmental technologies were also installed to maximize the reduction in CO2 emissions and improve workplace productivity. The most remarkable feature was the installation of a ceiling radiant air conditioning system of 30,000 sqm which is the largest of its kind in Japan. This building was designed mainly with radiant air-conditioning as part of efforts to achieve net ZEB (Zero-Energy Building) in the near future. On completion, continuous measurement and evaluation have been conducted.

This university campus is the latest urban campus designed on the concept of saving energy and CO2 emission, power load leveling and high-performance disaster-prevention, as a top-class low-carbon campus among science and engineering universities. In this campus, newly developed technologies, proven technologies and experimental trials have all been adopted. At the planning stage, we focused on its specific "usage of facilities" in science and engineering universities, unlike liberal arts colleges and office buildings.

This building is a complex facility of office and training accommodation for a life insurance company. The greatest feature of this building is a massive void (40m×40m), which is located in the center of the floor (100m×100m). Office spaces are arranged around this large void. This building introduces natural light and natural ventilation that utilize a large void. It plans to minimize the skin load while introducing natural light and wind, air-conditioning and ventilation plans to realize a large space office, conducted the air-type radiation panel by the  equivalent temperature control. As a result, we realized 1,185MJ/sqm this year.

This talk reviews the main parameters for double skin façade (DSF) design. It introduces an integrated and iterative modeling process for analyzing the thermal performance of DSF cavities with buoyancy-driven airflow by using an energy simulation program (BESP) with a CFD package. The model and the modeling process were calibrated and validated against the experiment. Correlations were developed that can be implemented in a BESP, allowing to keep the accuracy gained from CFD without the computation time. The correlations are valuable for “back of the envelope” calculation and for examining accuracy of zonal-model-based energy and airflow simulation programs.

Heating and cooling load calculations are presented for a double facade building located in South-East Europe. The analyzed construction of a double façade is the one mostly used in building practice: the outside façade is entirely glazed envelope, the inside façade is a combination of windows and walls. The analysis treated different façade orientations. The calculations were performed using three thermodynamic models: the model developed by authors and two models used in practice. The calculations were performed for different orientations of the facades, during sunny and cloudy days in summer and winter conditions, as well as for different glass properties.

The next generation of windows and glazing technologies for buildings, such as the one presented in this study have potential to reduce energy consumption in office buildings and in the residential sector. The research aims to highlight the interior comfort conditions for an office space equipped with a box double-skin facade placed in Brasov, Romania. Interior comfort conditions are evaluated by analyzing important parameters such as CO2 levels, natural lighting, noise and ventilation. The conclusion is that to overcome the mere role of thermal/noise insulation system, a double skin facade is mandatory to have a BMS, that enables a complex control and efficiency.

When designing the utilities for buildings in cold climate applications, there are important considerations that need to be taken in order to ensure the systems equipment operates efficiently and safely. Issues such as reliability, redundancy, freeze protection, adequate fuel storage, and back up heating systems are just some of the possibilities if a designer is unaware of the concerns. With the experience and knowledge of others described within the cold climate design guide, designers can learn the various strategies used to safeguard equipment against cold climate conditions and allow the equipment to work seamlessly.

HVAC equipment design varies around the world relative to the environment the equipment is located in.  When designing HVAC equipment in cold climate applications, there are important considerations that need to be taken in order to ensure the equipment operates correctly and safely.  Issues such as frozen coils and frosting heat wheels are just a couple of possibilities if a designer is unaware of the concerns. With the experience and knowledge of others described within the cold climate design guide, designers can learn the various strategies used to safeguard equipment against cold climate conditions and allow equipment to work seamlessly.

Building Control systems ensure that HVAC systems operate in a safe and efficient manner while maintaining the required building environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, pressure and ventilation. Each Building control system is custom designed to meet the unique requirements of the building. When designing a control system for a cold climate it is important to consider the effects of the cold on the building, the building occupants and the HVAC equipment and to incorporate appropriate cold climate control strategies in the control system design. Common cold climate design strategies are presented and best practices and lessons learned are discussed.

This presentation will highlight fascinating design challenges unique to the arctic environment as well as provide practical, field proven HVAC system design solutions. Applications include designing for high winds, drifting snow, and extreme cold temperatures.  Though originally designed for cold climates, attendees may find the presented solutions applicable for extreme conditions in other climates as well.

The residential building sector is responsible for about 26% of total energy consumption in the European Union and account for 75% of the total building stock. About 64% of the residential buildings were constructed before the 80s and the widespread adoption of energy efficiency regulations. In the framework of a European research project there is an ongoing multinational effort to develop a conceptual framework for monitoring the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) applied in European residential buildings. The conceptual framework is based on national residential building typologies for single- and multi-family houses. The goal is to derive suitable energy performance indicators that will enable stakeholders on different scales to ensure a high quality of energy refurbishment plans, check compliance with regulations, track and steer the refurbishment processes in a cost-effective way and quantify actual energy savings in order to meet regional or national targets. This paper will provide an overview of these efforts and focus on the results from the Hellenic pilot action within EPICOPE.

Advancements in whole building energy modeling have coincided with the demand for improved building energy performance and have become a useful tool in determining optimal configurations of energy saving measures on the path to net zero building. This study presents a multi-objective optimization environment in which passive energy conservations measures of a high performance house in Toronto are evaluated for life cycle cost and performance. The main objective of the study was to identify economically efficient design solutions that may be used to inform future efficient housing design and housing performance standards.

Recently built residential apartment buildings have faced the issue of increased condensation risk caused by highly insulated and airtight building designs used to decrease building energy consumption. In particular, glazing systems have a high risk of condensation on the inside surface of building envelopes. Especially during cold winters in Korea, condensation in residential buildings damages the interior surfaces, leading to mold or mildew problems and causing discomfort of the building occupants. To eliminate condensation risks and secure the well-being of the occupants, the Korean Design Standard for Preventing Condensation was announced in 2014. Nonetheless, current glazing systems in the market cannot fulfill the strengthened design standards. Therefore, a high-performance glazing system that satisfies the new enhanced standard is needed. A brief comparison between the newly developed Korean Design Standard for Preventing Condensation and other international standards was performed.