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Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates

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  • Francesco Mancini

    (Department of Planning, Design and Technology of Architecture, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Flaminia, 72-00197 Rome, Italy)

  • Fabio Nardecchia

    (Department of Astronautics, Electrical Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Daniele Groppi

    (Department of Astronautics, Electrical Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Ruperto

    (Interdepartmental Centre for Landscape, Building, Conservation, Environment (CITERA), Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Gramsci, 53-00197 Rome, Italy)

  • Carlo Romeo

    (Energy Efficiency Department (DUEE), Italian National Agency for Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese, 301-00123 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The energy refurbishment of the existing building heritage is one of the pillars of Italian energy policy. Aiming for energy efficiency and energy saving in end uses, there are wide and diversified improvement strategies, which include interventions on the building envelope and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, with the introduction of renewable energy sources. The research aims at evaluating the building energy consumptions and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), varying the airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. A Case Study (the Aula Magna of a university building) is analysed; an in-situ monitoring campaign was carried out to evaluate the trend of some environmental parameters that are considered to be significant when varying the external airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. Additionally, dynamic simulations were carried out, with the aim of evaluating the energy savings coming from the airflow rates reduction. The results of this case study highlight the opportunity to achieve significant energy savings, with only slight variations in IEQ; a 50% reduction in airflow rate would decrease energy consumption by up to 45.2%, while increasing the carbon dioxide concentration from 545 ppm to 655 ppm, while the Particulate Matter and Total Volatile Organic Compounds increase is insignificant.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Mancini & Fabio Nardecchia & Daniele Groppi & Francesco Ruperto & Carlo Romeo, 2020. "Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:482-:d:306573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yunho Kim & Yunha Park & Hyuncheol Seo & Jungha Hwang, 2023. "Load Prediction Algorithm Applied with Indoor Environment Sensing in University Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Mahmoud Khaled & Samer Ali & Hassan Jaber & Jalal Faraj & Rabih Murr & Thierry Lemenand, 2022. "Heating/Cooling Fresh Air Using Hot/Cold Exhaust Air of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Rajavelu Dharani & Madasamy Balasubramonian & Thanikanti Sudhakar Babu & Benedetto Nastasi, 2021. "Load Shifting and Peak Clipping for Reducing Energy Consumption in an Indian University Campus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Aminhossein Jahanbin & Giovanni Semprini, 2020. "Numerical Study on Indoor Environmental Quality in a Room Equipped with a Combined HRV and Radiator System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.

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