zero energy building

Zero Energy Buildings require airtightness and mechanical ventilation systems to provide air changes and energy saving. These requirements contrast with the principles of natural ventilation. Through a case study located in Modena, Italy, a design strategy is proposed as a solution to integrate natural and mechanical ventilation systems at different times of the year to reduce the energy consumption in a newly designed high-density ZEB. The internal comfort evaluation for the warm season is then verified with a multizone dynamic simulation and a CFD analysis.

Developing a method to optimize the investment cost of a building and the energy performance, represented by the energy consumption, one gets easily confronted with conflicting objects.  As the investment cost usually rises, while the energy consumption shrinks it is somehow difficult to find an optimal solution.  The utopic point would be the point where saving energy doesn’t cost athing, or even better: earns the occupant extra money.  Reality however shows different: restricting the energy losses almost always implies an investment.  The simplest example is increasing the thermal resista

Through the experiences gained by building a sufficient number of air-tight buildings, the author will illustrate the ease of detailing and constructing an air tight building. Using parallels to conventional building typologies, the methods of making an air-tight building enveloppe will be explained. The presentation will be divided into following chapters:

1. Precicious building methodology.