English

The paper reports on progress to date on the development of a model for predicting energy use and the effect of conservation strategies in non-domestic buildings in the tropic and subtropics. This model considers lighting loads (L), both artificial and daylight, thermal loads (T) and ventilation effects (V). It is hoped, that when completed in late 1998, the model will provide a Lighting, Thermal, and Ventilation (LTV) advocacy tool for use in the early stages of the design processes of engineers and architects. This will provide vital feedback to the early design decisions.

The present research applies the N3S 3D finite element CFD code to the air flow simulation on a well-known dwelling building located in South of Switzerland, the " Maison Ronde " of the architect Mario Botta. The summer night refreshing effect is examined when crossing ventilation due to the wind creates indoor air motion and for cooling walls and ceilings surfaces. To be realistic, the simulation takes simultaneously into account the three main aspects of the problem: - determining boundaries conditions.

Energy Comfort 2000 is a THERMIB supported Target project in which seven non-domestic buildings have been designed, built and are being monitored. An eighth building was designed but unfortunately has not finally been built. All are Passive and Low Energy buildings, designed to avoid or minimise the use of air-conditioning, by using the architectural design and construction of the building to produce adequate internal comfort conditions. Overall energy consumption is calculated to be less than 50% compared with traditional buildings and early monitoring has confirmed these predictions.

The use of air solar collector realised on the north facade of a new hospital building in Rome is hereby described. The integration of solar and structural element has been studied during the design phase; the development of air gaps integrated within enclosures is related to the possibility to activate both natural (ejecting indoor air outside) and forced (preheating outside air incoming to the air handling units) ventilation. The energy gained by the solar elements has been evaluated.

In 1993, the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK, refurbished the open-plan first floor Design Studio in their Publishing Department to use natural ventilation to keep the interior cool. At the same time the third floor, which was not suitable for passive cooling, was fitted with mechanical comfort cooling units and the intermediate floor was not changed. This paper compares tl1e thermal performance of the three floors and discusses the results of a staff-satisfaction survey conducted among the occupants.

The relationships, in courtyards, between wind flow pattern and temperature distribution have been studied. Thus, in the first part of this study a dimensionless temperature based on the exchange of heat by convection is defined. Then, using the ratio of depth to width (Aspect Ratio) as the main parameter, we are able to explain the curious behaviour observed. Finally, courtyards are divided into several zones in order to separate the different heat sources in each one, allowing us a stratification study.