Aldomar Pedrini

A methodology for building energy modelling and calibration in warm climates

In the last 7 years, a method has been developed to analyse building energy performance using computer simulation, in Brazil. The method combines analysis of building design plans and documentation, walk-through visits, electric and thermal measurements and the use of an energy simulation tool (DOE-2.1E code), The method was used to model more than 15 office buildings (more than 200 000 m(2)), located between 12.5degrees and 27.5degrees South latitude. The paper describes the basic methodology, with data for one building and presents additional results for other six cases

Sustainable house design: Fernando de Noronha-Brazil

This paper describes the methodology and the environmental assessment results of the proposed sustainable house in Fernando de Noronha island (038 51′ south and 328 25′ west), at the Northeast Coast of Brazil. The project was developed at the same site of the EMBRATEL telecommunications station built in 1997 and aimed to serve as a sustainable demonstration project at the island with minimum impact on the surroundings. Characterized by a warm‐humid tropical climate, overheating is the major problem all year round. Conservation of resources, such as water, energy and materials are the main concerns for architectural design projects to be implemented at this island context. This project concentrated on a design that could minimize energy requirements, through improvement of thermal comfort and low energy features, so the daytime electrical needs could be accomplished by the photovoltaic component (grid connected system). The evaluation of performance and feasibility of solutions were tested on a range of different simulation tools, such as VisualDOE‐2.1 (LBL, USA), Esp‐r (ESRU, UK), Ecotect (UWA, Australia) and PV Design PRO 4.0. (Sandia Labs‐USA). This project was a finalist at the WREA/UNESCO, World Renewable Energy 2000 environmental design competition.

A Critique of the Passive Zone Concept for Energy Conservation Design Tools

The use of design tools in architectural design is common place. Yet, in recent years the need has arisen to provide design tools to assist with the evaluating the energy usage of buildings. A number of tools are available for this type of work. Unfortunately, many of these tools are inappropriate for integration in the architectural design process. The research described here reports development work on a lighting, thermal and ventilation tool for use at the conceptual stage in the design process. The main contention is that this type of tool is crucial to effective passive low-energy design as it is difficult to integrate energy saving feature at later stages in the design process. Part of this work has necessitated a critique of the concept of the passive strategies for non-domestic buildings; this is an important element in assessing the energy contribution of the external environment to the building.

Classroom Daylighting Performance with Shaded Window at the Equator

This paper aims to demonstrate a method to assess the classrooms daylighting performance with shaded windows, at the Equator, in hot and humid climate, using a computer simulation program, DAYSIM. The study concerns the city of Natal, Northeast of Brazil, 5o S, on the coastal area, whose principles of passive building design emphasize large and shaded openings to promote natural ventilation and avoid solar thermal gain to achieve thermal comfort. Such strategies also contributes to daylight comfort, promoting adequate diffuse light and avoiding the excess of glare due to the direct daylight. On the contrary, unshaded fenestration may lead the users to close the curtains and turn the electric lights on. The method assesses the daylighting levels for different classroom depths, and the influence of the opening size and external shading performance. The simulated models combined three opening dimensions (20%, 40% and 50% of window-to-wall ratio — WWR), two main façade orientations (North and South), and seven types of shading (horizontal overhang, drop edge overhang, 5o sloped overhang, horizontal overhang with side protection, horizontal overhang with three louvers, double horizontal overhang, double horizontal overhang with three louvers). Analyzes based on the useful daylight illuminance (UDI) index showed limitations due to the occurrence of glare, caused by direct daylight next to the window. Detailed simulations emphasized the influence of the visible sky factor (VSF) and opening size combinations in the daylight performance. Results show that 20%WWR does not cause glare, but the daylight declination occurs significantly at 3.50 m depth. The 40%WWR causes glare in the first row of sensors next to the window, highly reduced with light shelves. Further assessments with 40%WWR and 50% WWR models reduced or eliminated the glare occurrences. The daylight zone of 40%WWR varies between 3.54 m and 4.75 m and the daylight zone of 50%WWR reaches approximately 7.20 m.

Análise da ocorrência de ofuscamento no uso da luz natural em edificações escolares para Natal-RN

This paper presents the study of glare occurrences in classrooms for the city of NatalRN. Although there is much daylight availability locally, its use is still underexplored in school architecture. The method of analysis is divided into definition of the base case and reference models, modeling, simulation and analysis of the results. The analyzed models are classroom environments with the dimensions of 7.20m x 7.20 m, with window-to-wall-ratio (WWR) of 20 %, 40 % and 50 %, and shading devices such as standard horizontal overhang, sloped overhang, standard horizontal overhang with side view protection, standard horizontal overhang with a dropped edge, double standard horizontal overhang, double standard horizontal overhang with three horizontal louvers, standard horizontal overhang with three horizontal louvers, besides the use of light shelves in some models. As the behavior of light is quite variable throughout the year, chose to adopt an approach based on dynamic simulation analysis. The modeling was performed in SketchUp program , the simulation was performed in Daysim program ( Reinhart , 2010) and data analysis was done using spreadsheets , where a range of UDI was determined between 300lux and 2000Lux for exploratory analyzes and between 300lux and 3000lux for more specific analyzes. It was observed a reduction of glare in the first row of sensors, either by using the light shelves, or protection for the high light.