ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN

The Course aims to provide the technical and scientific bases to assess the Energy Performance of buildings and their thermal systems, as well as the fundamental elements for the design of the thermal systems. To this end, the Course describes the most recent technologies for the energy efficiency of buildings and thermal systems, and the related design methodologies. The Course also presents the main techniques for active and passive heating of buildings, with particular reference to solar technologies, and the issues of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort. The acquired knowledge will allow the students to address the Energy Performance Certification of a building provided with thermal systems, and to perform energy renovation projects that comply with the strict performance requirements imposed by the recent regulations, while also accessing the available fiscal incentives.

The laboratory module (40 hours) aims to provide the practical foundations necessary for the sustainable design of buildings andtheir thermal systems through the use of suitable software tools for simulating the energy performance of buildings, certified by the most recent European and Italian regulations.

All theoretical contents of the discipline will be discussed through traditional lectures.

In order to profitably attend the lectures, it is highly recommended that the students have already attended the lectures of Building Physics (III year). This is necessary to have the basic knowledge regarding energy balances and Heat Transfer processes in Buildings.

Attending the lectures is COMPULSORY, with a minimum attendance rate complying with the requirements set by the University (70% of the hours).

"Theory" module (10 hours)

Controlled mechanical ventilation systems (VMC): components and sizing principles - Solar thermal systems: classification, schemes and sizing principles - Hybrid solar systems: photovoltaic/thermall

"Laboratory" module (40 hours)

The project work concerns the energy renovation of an existing building chosen by the students and will make use of certifiedItalian software tools for the thermal and energy analysis of buildings. The project work will be conducted in small groups of 2-3 students each and will cover the following aspects:

• Functional and geometric characterization of the building
• Definition of the main thermal features of the glazed and opaque envelope, including thermal bridges
• Identification of the available HVAC systems and water systems
• Characterization of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors features (if any)
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Evaluation of the critical issues of the property under study
  
• Proposal of an energy retrofit solutions, and corresponding verification by law
• Proposal of PV system installation

The students will mainly use the lecture notes prepared and distributed by the lecturer. These include all the slides commented by the lecturer, but also technical sheets, regulations and spreadsheets, whose consultation is highly recommended.

The students can also refer to the following books to deepen some topics:

1. V. RAISA, Teoria e tecnica della ventilazione. Ed. Delfino, 2010
2. G. ALFANO, F.R. D’AMBROSIO, G. RICCIO, La valutazione delle condizioni termoigrometriche negli ambienti di lavoro:confort e sicurezza. Ed. CUEN, 1997
3. F. GROPPI, G. ZUCCARO, Impianti solari fotovoltaici a norme CEI. Ed. Delfino, 2010
4. A. BRIGANTI, Manuale di climatizzazione. Ed. Tecniche Nuove (Cap. 7, 8, 9)
5. N. ASTE, F. GROPPI, Impianti solari termici. Manuale per ingegneri, architetti, installatori. Ed. Delfino, 2007.

The final evaluation is based on an oral interview concerning all the topics addressed in the program, including a discussion of the design activities performed in the "Laboratory" module. The solution of some simple design cases can also be discussed.

• Legal checks regarding the energy performance of buildings: Decree 26/06/2015
• Features of mechanical ventilation systems
  
• Principles of sizing of controlled mechanical ventilation systems
  
• Components of a solar thermal system
  
• Discussion of the design choices concerning the composition of the opaque and transparent building envelope
  
• Discussion of plant design choices
• Results of hygrometric and energy checks required by law
• Integration of renewable energy sources within an existing building