Energy and Environmental Sustainability of a Zero-Energy & Zero-Carbon Building

Abstract

The building sector is largely responsible for energy consumption and carbon emissions. As a result, the European Union has developed several directives, including an updated Energy Efficiency of Buildings Directive 2018/844/EU, designed to reduce the energy demand of buildings and improve the energy efficiency of their facilities by integrating renewable energy. This PhD thesis shows a methodology development for ZEB buildings, framed within the European regulations. The target building is an existing Zero Energy Building and Zero Carbon Emissions building called LUCIA, located on the university campus in Valladolid, Spain. The building LUCIA has the highest innovative technologies in energy systems, design and construction elements. An analysis of energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and operating costs of renewable energy technologies implemented in a multipurpose zero-energy building is presented in this PhD. The monitoring data, obtained by dynamic monitoring through SCADA was implemented in the control room of the building, and provides the necessary information on the needs of electricity, cooling and heating. This PhD thesis shows quantitatively how the demand for cooling would increase about 25% by 2050 and 2080, while heating would decrease. This will increase the overall demand for burning more biomass to cover the added demand in absorption cooling systems. Furthermore, the previous excess generated electricity of the building by photovoltaics would then be totally consumed within the building due to the increased demand. This implies that the installed systems will operate for longer hours, increasing maintenance and replacement costs. Therefore it is possible to quantify expected changes in energy consumption and anticipate this change by preparing preventive interventions, ultimately improving the management and control of both the energy systems and the building. It will also be possible to verify that the building under study will continue to meet ZEB requirements in the future, as is the case in the LUCIA building.