Alessandra Scognamiglio

Solution Sets for Net-Zero Energy Buildings: Feedback from 30 Buildings worldwide

Net Zero-Energy Buildings have been the object of numerous studies in recent years as various countries have set this performance level as a long-term goal of their energy policies. This book presents a unique study of 30 NZEBs that have been constructed and have had their performance measured for at least 12 months. The study is based upon an international collaborative research initiated by the International Energy Agency the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC). It is the first book to evaluate building strategies in houses, educational buildings and offices that have been demonstrated to work in practice. It examines how the design challenges of climate and building type have been addressed, and to what extent the various design approaches have been successful.

PV and Façade Systems for the Building Skin. Analysis of Design Effectiveness and Technological Features

Facades are the central element in the design and architectural definition of contemporary buildings. Several solutions, with different aesthetical appeal, perform the finishing materials of existing building and new constructions. A sustainable design process today is intended to produce high-performance buildings that are energy-efficient, healthy and economically feasible, by wisely using renewable resources to minimize the impact on the environment and to reduce, as much as possible, the energy demand. For this reason, the facade system plays an important role for achieving these energy and environmental goals and Photovoltaic can play a leading role in this challenge. Relying on a vast database of products and building examples, collected in different research projects, a multi-criteria analysis has been performed to compare BIPV solutions with other technological possibilities for facade (either traditional than innovative), in terms of technological, architectural, energetic, environmental and economic requirements. As this study demonstrates, PV will be able to become an affordable alternative to conventional facades since a more precise information and a common language will be implemented and shared.