Energy Efficient Buildings:
Issues, Research Opportunities
Leon Glicksman
Building Technology Program
January 27, 2005
US Energy Consumption
U.S. Energy Use
28%
Transportation
39%
Buildings
Industrial
33%
U.S. Buildings
•38 % of total energy ( in UK 50 % )
•67 % of electricity
•90% of time spent indoors
•Major health problems: indoor climate
1Quad = 10 15 BTU
Average Lifetime of Buildings
United States Commercial Buildings
Average Age of US Cars and Trucks
US Dept of Transportation
New Building Construction in
Developing Countries
China
• ~ 10 M new residence units/year!
• Commercial building rate ~ ∑ Western
countries
“Exudes Green”
vs.
Green Performance
Heritage 2000 Artist’s Rendering
Energy Efficient
Copenhagen: Cooled only by
Natural Ventilation
Energy Efficient
Not very energy efficient
Building Technology Program
• Joint Architecture/ ME / Civil
• 5 Faculty
• ~ 20 graduate students
Energy Research
Building Technology Group
• Natural ventilation in commercial buildings
– Air flow Prediction: scale models, numerical methods
– Multiple Stable States
• Integrated design:
– design tools
– Developing countries
• Controls
– Optimization
– Remote monitoring
• Advanced envelopes: double skin facades
• Thermal insulation: fundamental mechanisms
• Daylighting
• Lifecycle evaluation: real options for flexible designs
Double Skin Building Facades
• Goals include
– Energy conservation &
ecological benefits
– High level of thermal and
visual comfort
– Architectural transparency
– Noise Reduction
– Security
– Natural Ventilation
The German Towers
Commerzbank, Frankfurt
RWE Ag, Essen
Natural Ventilated Building, Aldwyck
Housing-Luton England
Airflow pattern compared between
simulation and visualization
Visualized air flow direction
Luton Air Model-MIT
10th Scale Model of Luton Building
Airflow Measurements compare to building
Airflow Visualization techniques
MIT Design Advisor
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•
•
•
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Simple Tool
Use in the Conceptual Design Stage
Compare Scenarios
Real Time Calculations
Real Time Optimization
Mechanical Pure natural Hybrid ventilation
Mechanical
Pure natural
Hybrid ventilation