Transformation of an Office Building into a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB): Implications for Thermal and Visual Comfort and Energy Performance

Ilaria Ballarini, Giovanna De Luca, Argun Paragamyan, Anna Pellegrino and Vincenzo Corrado
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Ilaria Ballarini: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Giovanna De Luca: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Argun Paragamyan: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Anna Pellegrino: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Vincenzo Corrado: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Directive 2010/31/EU promotes the refurbishment of existing buildings to change them into nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs). Within this framework, it is of crucial importance to guarantee the best trade-off between energy performance and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The implications of a global refurbishment scenario on thermal and visual comfort are assessed in this paper pertaining to an existing office building. The retrofit actions applied to achieve the nZEB target consist of a combination of envelope and technical building systems refurbishment measures, involving both HVAC and lighting. Energy and comfort calculations were carried out through dynamic simulation using Energy Plus and DIVA, for the thermal and visual performance assessments, respectively. The results point out that energy retrofit actions on the building envelope would lead to significant improvements in the thermal performance, regarding both energy savings (−37% of the annual primary energy for heating) and thermal comfort. However, a daylighting reduction would occur with a consequent higher electricity demand for lighting (36%). The research presents a detailed approach applicable to further analyses aimed at optimizing the energy efficiency measures in order to reduce the imbalance between visual and thermal comfort and to ensure the best performance in both domains.

Keywords: building energy refurbishment; nearly zero-energy building (nZEB); thermal comfort; visual comfort; energy performance; office building (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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