WIT Press


Improving Building Energy Efficiency: A Case Study

Price

Free (open access)

Volume

143

Pages

11

Page Range

61 - 71

Published

2011

Size

1,153 kb

Paper DOI

10.2495/ESUS110061

Copyright

WIT Press

Author(s)

S. Grignaffini, M. Romagna & D. Principia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to conduct a study for improving energy efficiency of an important building in Rome, the Headquarters of the Italian State Monopoly. The study was conducted by comparing conventional analysis tools with innovative ones, in order to evaluate the possible solutions, both structural and plant, aimed at the use of renewable sources and at energy saving. After making a thermo graphic survey, the first and useful step for a good energy audit, conduct building energy was simulated, at first in steady state by the use of a software widely used at the professional level, then in transient state by the use of TRNSYS, a finite difference method software which is able to simulate more accurately conduct building energy. The next step was to propose possible redevelopment of a structural and energy plant that promotes the building energy rating higher, finding the right balance between the energetic and economic aspect. Among the interventions plant, two possible workarounds have been proposed and designed in detail:  installation of a photovoltaic system;  installation of a solar cooling system. Both solutions lead to a reduction of electricity consumption with a significant impact in economic and environmental terms. Keywords: energy efficiency, energy saving, steady state, transient state, photovoltaic system, solar cooling system. 1 Introduction The work presented here has as its object the study of upgrading the energy efficiency of an important building in Rome the Headquarter of the Italian State

Keywords

energy efficiency, energy saving, steady state, transient state, photovoltaic system, solar cooling system. 1 Introduction