IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i12p9581-d1171131.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

Author

Listed:
  • Luigi Maffei

    (Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo 4, 81031 Aversa, Italy)

  • Antonio Ciervo

    (Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo 4, 81031 Aversa, Italy)

  • Achille Perrotta

    (Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo 4, 81031 Aversa, Italy)

  • Massimiliano Masullo

    (Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo 4, 81031 Aversa, Italy)

  • Antonio Rosato

    (Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo 4, 81031 Aversa, Italy)

Abstract

Worldwide, smart/co-working spaces are growing significantly, and prefabricated movable buildings for such an application could (i) save energy, CO 2 emissions, and costs; (ii) enhance the worker’s perceived sense of surroundings; and (iii) support the rebirth of small villages with high regenerative potential. Innovative prefabricated movable building configurations to be used as an office for smart/co-working by a maximum of 6 persons have been designed and analyzed based on simulation data. In particular, 10 case studies corresponding to building configurations differing in terms of innovative energy-efficient measures related to the building envelope (smart windows operated under various control logics) and the energy systems serving the building (photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, and electric storages) have been modeled and simulated by applying detailed dynamic simulation models via the simulation software TRNSYS. The performance of the 10 case studies has been compared from energy, environmental, and economic points of view with respect to a baseline system characterized by conventional building envelope and energy systems, with the aim of assessing the proposed measures and identifying the most efficient configuration. The simulation results highlighted that: (i) all the proposed alternative configurations allow to save primary energy (from 10.3% up to 100%), equivalent CO 2 emissions(from 10.3% up to 100%), and operating costs (from 8.5% up to 100%) with respect to the baseline building; (ii) the building configurations including the smart windows only are not economically feasible in terms of simple pay-back (SPB) period, while the building configurations equipped with photovoltaic panels and/or electric storages and/or wind turbine represent a suitable investment thanks to an SPB lower than 15.2 years; (iii) a stand-alone building configuration for smart/co-working with energy demands totally covered by means of renewable sources can be obtained by combining smart windows, photovoltaic panels, electric storages and wind turbine.

Suggested Citation

  • Luigi Maffei & Antonio Ciervo & Achille Perrotta & Massimiliano Masullo & Antonio Rosato, 2023. "Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-37, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9581-:d:1171131
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9581/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9581/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. O'Shaughnessy, Eric & Cutler, Dylan & Ardani, Kristen & Margolis, Robert, 2018. "Solar plus: Optimization of distributed solar PV through battery storage and dispatchable load in residential buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 11-21.
    2. Wang, Richard & Ye, Zhongnan & Lu, Miaojia & Hsu, Shu-Chien, 2022. "Understanding post-pandemic work-from-home behaviours and community level energy reduction via agent-based modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    3. Lantonio, Nicole A. & Krarti, Moncef, 2022. "Simultaneous design and control optimization of smart glazed windows," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    4. Tavares, P.F. & Gaspar, A.R. & Martins, A.G. & Frontini, F., 2014. "Evaluation of electrochromic windows impact in the energy performance of buildings in Mediterranean climates," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 68-81.
    5. Xiang, Xiwang & Ma, Minda & Ma, Xin & Chen, Liming & Cai, Weiguang & Feng, Wei & Ma, Zhili, 2022. "Historical decarbonization of global commercial building operations in the 21st century," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    6. Košir, Mitja & Iglič, Nataša & Kunič, Roman, 2018. "Optimisation of heating, cooling and lighting energy performance of modular buildings in respect to location’s climatic specifics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 527-539.
    7. Chicco, Gianfranco & Mancarella, Pierluigi, 2008. "Assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions from cogeneration and trigeneration systems. Part I: Models and indicators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 410-417.
    8. Wang, Caixia & Deng, Shiming & Niu, Jianlei & Long, Enshen, 2019. "A numerical study on optimizing the designs of applying PCMs to a disaster-relief prefabricated temporary-house (PTH) to improve its summer daytime indoor thermal environment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 239-249.
    9. Mancarella, Pierluigi & Chicco, Gianfranco, 2008. "Assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions from cogeneration and trigeneration systems. Part II: Analysis techniques and application cases," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 418-430.
    10. Rashad, Magdi & Żabnieńska-Góra, Alina & Norman, Les & Jouhara, Hussam, 2022. "Analysis of energy demand in a residential building using TRNSYS," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    11. Casini, Marco, 2018. "Active dynamic windows for buildings: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 923-934.
    12. Rosato, Antonio & Ciervo, Antonio & Ciampi, Giovanni & Scorpio, Michelangelo & Guarino, Francesco & Sibilio, Sergio, 2020. "Impact of solar field design and back-up technology on dynamic performance of a solar hybrid heating network integrated with a seasonal borehole thermal energy storage serving a small-scale residentia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 684-703.
    13. Howell, Travis, 2022. "Coworking spaces: An overview and research agenda," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yao Li & Michael Rockinger, 2024. "Unfolding the Transitions in Sustainability Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-31, January.
    2. Lorenzo Rapone & Afaq A. Butt & Roel C. G. M. Loonen & Giacomo Salvadori & Francesco Leccese, 2024. "Investigating Advanced Building Envelopes for Energy Efficiency in Prefab Temporary Post-Disaster Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Angeliki Kitsopoulou & Antonis Zacharis & Nikolaos Ziozas & Evangelos Bellos & Petros Iliadis & Ioannis Lampropoulos & Eleni Chatzigeorgiou & Komninos Angelakoglou & Nikolaos Nikolopoulos, 2023. "Dynamic Energy Analysis of Different Heat Pump Heating Systems Exploiting Renewable Energy Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-36, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rosato, Antonio & Ciervo, Antonio & Ciampi, Giovanni & Scorpio, Michelangelo & Guarino, Francesco & Sibilio, Sergio, 2020. "Impact of solar field design and back-up technology on dynamic performance of a solar hybrid heating network integrated with a seasonal borehole thermal energy storage serving a small-scale residentia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 684-703.
    2. Ismail, M.S. & Moghavvemi, M. & Mahlia, T.M.I., 2013. "Energy trends in Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza Strip: Possibilities for reducing the reliance on external energy sources," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 117-129.
    3. Han, Shulun & Sun, Yuying & Wang, Wei & Xu, Wenjing & Wei, Wenzhe, 2023. "Optimal design method for electrochromic window split-pane configuration to enhance building energy efficiency," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    4. Daniel Cardoso & Daniel Nunes & João Faria & Paulo Fael & Pedro D. Gaspar, 2023. "Intelligent Micro-Cogeneration Systems for Residential Grids: A Sustainable Solution for Efficient Energy Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Sun, Yuying & Hao, Yingying & Wang, Dan & Wang, Wei & Deng, Shiming & Qi, Haoran & Xue, Peng, 2022. "A predictive control strategy for electrochromic glazing to balance the visual and thermal environmental requirements: Approach and energy-saving potential assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 334-348.
    6. Jiang-Jiang, Wang & Chun-Fa, Zhang & You-Yin, Jing, 2010. "Multi-criteria analysis of combined cooling, heating and power systems in different climate zones in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1247-1259, April.
    7. Krarti, Moncef, 2023. "Optimal optical properties for smart glazed windows applied to residential buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    8. Ciampi, Giovanni & Rosato, Antonio & Sibilio, Sergio, 2018. "Thermo-economic sensitivity analysis by dynamic simulations of a small Italian solar district heating system with a seasonal borehole thermal energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 757-771.
    9. Adrian Neacșa & Mirela Panait & Jianu Daniel Mureșan & Marian Catalin Voica & Otilia Manta, 2022. "The Energy Transition between Desideratum and Challenge: Are Cogeneration and Trigeneration the Best Solution?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-22, March.
    10. Farah Mneimneh & Hasan Ghazzawi & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2023. "Review Study of Energy Efficiency Measures in Favor of Reducing Carbon Footprint of Electricity and Power, Buildings, and Transportation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 447-474, March.
    11. Gao, Penghui & Dai, Yanjun & Tong, YenWah & Dong, Pengwei, 2015. "Energy matching and optimization analysis of waste to energy CCHP (combined cooling, heating and power) system with exergy and energy level," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 522-535.
    12. Sibilio, Sergio & Rosato, Antonio & Ciampi, Giovanni & Scorpio, Michelangelo & Akisawa, Atsushi, 2017. "Building-integrated trigeneration system: Energy, environmental and economic dynamic performance assessment for Italian residential applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 920-933.
    13. Jing, Rui & Wang, Meng & Brandon, Nigel & Zhao, Yingru, 2017. "Multi-criteria evaluation of solid oxide fuel cell based combined cooling heating and power (SOFC-CCHP) applications for public buildings in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 273-289.
    14. Caresana, Flavio & Brandoni, Caterina & Feliciotti, Petro & Bartolini, Carlo Maria, 2011. "Energy and economic analysis of an ICE-based variable speed-operated micro-cogenerator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(3), pages 659-671, March.
    15. Kazemi-Beydokhti, Amin & Zeinali Heris, Saeed, 2012. "Thermal optimization of combined heat and power (CHP) systems using nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 241-247.
    16. Zhao, Xin & Zheng, Wenyu & Hou, Zhihua & Chen, Heng & Xu, Gang & Liu, Wenyi & Chen, Honggang, 2022. "Economic dispatch of multi-energy system considering seasonal variation based on hybrid operation strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    17. María A. Quintás & Ana I. Martínez-Senra & Antonio Sartal, 2018. "The Role of SMEs’ Green Business Models in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: Differences in Their Design and Degree of Adoption Stemming from Business Size," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    18. Sheykhi, Mohammad & Chahartaghi, Mahmood & Safaei Pirooz, Amir Ali & Flay, Richard G.J., 2020. "Investigation of the effects of operating parameters of an internal combustion engine on the performance and fuel consumption of a CCHP system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    19. Compernolle, Tine & Witters, Nele & Van Passel, Steven & Thewys, Theo, 2011. "Analyzing a self-managed CHP system for greenhouse cultivation as a profitable way to reduce CO2-emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1940-1947.
    20. Jradi, M. & Riffat, S., 2014. "Tri-generation systems: Energy policies, prime movers, cooling technologies, configurations and operation strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 396-415.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9581-:d:1171131. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.