This thesis investigates the structure of the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) at Ball State University, otherwise referred to as the Architecture Building (AB). The purpose of this study was to examine the use of energy within the two wings of the building. The research focussed on the history of the decision-making process of the design. It studied the geometry of the building. It researches the issue of lighting and daylighting. It examined the behavior of the HVAC systems. It studied the current and potential use of the Solar Chimney. It analyzed the existing windows as well as possible alternatives.The study results in an experimental design for an additional wing for the Architecture Building. It also recommends specific solutions for optimizing the separate parts of the existing building with respect to their use of energy as well as their exposure to daylight. This also helps to identify the limits of rebuilding an existing structure. Therefore, the appendices show new technologies that will help future designs, from the building materials used to the change of the design process itself.With its huge south-facing atrium and the closed north wall this building communicates the idea of utilizing natural energy sources (e.g., maximizing of solar gain) and minimizing the loss of energy through the building envelope.In fact, the biggest energy consuming factor is not the loss of energy during the winter time, but the excessive gain of energy during the summer which puts an extraordinary cooling load on the A/C system of the building. Apart from that, the amount of electricity for lighting due to the unavailability of daylight as well as the very inefficient lighting system and fans of the A/C system is extensive.Recent advances in the development of high efficiency windows and lights would allow for significant savings within the building. Unfortunately, a lot of the problems of the building are "cast in concrete" and therefore cannot be changed. This leads to the realization that architects need tools that allow them to better predict the future behavior of their anticipated structures. New developments in the field of Computer Aided Design (CAD) boost this simulation ability of planned buildings to a point unthought of a few years ago. / Department of Architecture

The purpose of this research is to develop and verify a simplified and concise building simulation model suitable for high-level applications such as preliminary design or for embedding into adaptive control systems. An actual complex modern building and its energy system has been monitored. The monitored energy performance of this building has been compared with the empirical performance predicted by two simulation modeling programs and, alternatively, by a simplified single-zone model. This project is composed of several related tasks. The first component is the monitoring of the energy consumption rates, pertinent environmental data, and load indicators of the new Klaus Advanced Computing Building on the Georgia Institute of Technology's Atlanta campus. The Klaus building was chosen because it represents a typical non-residential building. Subsequently, these findings have been compared with results from DOE-2 and eQUEST, well established energy simulation modeling programs. These comparisons allow for an empirical verification of the modeling program for Atlanta conditions. Finally, a simplified single-zone building model has been developed, and its predictions compared with the empirical data and with the results of the more complex programs. The results verify both the more complex programs and the single-zone model, and also demonstrate the use of a single-zone model for future work and predictions.

Commercial office building occupants are a significant consumer of electricity, and they subsequently contribute a significant amount of greenhouse gases into the environment in the process. An opportunity exists to improve the energy efficiency in existing buildings, and the Energy Star certification program provides both tools to do so and an independent verification of a building's superior energy efficiency. However, only 16% of metro Atlanta's office space has achieved this certification. The intent of the research was to identify the current state of energy efficiency in buildings, and to identify potential obstacles to obtaining the Energy Star certification. Towards this goal, secondary research was conducted among prominent academic journals, as well as numerous professional and governmental organizations and publications. Primary research was conducted through an online survey of Facility Managers, Property Managers, and Building Engineers of Energy Star office buildings and comparable non-Energy Star office buildings in the metro Atlanta area. The survey was conducted mostly using closed-ended questions using a Likert scale so as to provide a basis for statistical analysis among responses, and open-ended questions were also included to identify the current state of energy efficiency practices. The research identified three areas which hold statistically significant differences between Energy Star and directly comparable buildings. An analysis also determined that building age does seem to play a role in the building representatives' responses. Four conclusions were found regarding characteristics of Energy Star buildings themselves. The research also identified five conclusions regarding the expected result when pursuing the Energy Star certification. These conclusions include the best method to achieve the Energy Star certification, the expected energy savings, the expected time spent to achieve the certification, the expected cost to achieve the certification, and the main reasons to recertify the building. Finally, this research highlights innovative practices in other states and cities, such as financial incentives and legislation which require commercial buildings to obtain a building rating. Such innovative practices are currently not employed in the Atlanta metro area, but would be beneficial to both the Atlanta area and individual buildings.

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-147). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Current regulatory and other policy trends in housing refurbishment relating to low-carbon performance standards tend to involve complex technologies and systems as well as innovative solutions to achieve 80% emissions reduction in line with the UK national target for 2050. Indicators of domestic energy performance tend to assume ideal performance of materials, complex systems and services, and that they are installed to high standards and under specific conditions, as well as rational occupant behaviour and interactions. Previous studies exploring the influence of socio-technical factors on the UK's domestic energy use highlight that one of the main reasons for under-performance of individual projects is the lack of understanding of how people interact with domestic technology. Considering this, and given that there is still little evidence on deep refurbishments that implement low-carbon 'whole house' approaches in the UK, this research explored occupants' interaction with heating and ventilation measures as these were designed, installed and operated. The main concern was to identify the type of interactions that occur between occupants (social housing tenants) and building systems (mainly low-carbon heating and ventilation systems), and how that influences actual energy use. Using a sample of 26 social housing properties involved in the Retrofit for the Future competition in the UK, the study employed an socio-technical mixed methods approach, in which qualitative and quantitative empirical data were explored together, cross-checking occupants' 'doings' and 'sayings'. A combination of theories was used to analyse the complex interrelated factors involved in users' interaction with building systems. The analysis identifies key factors that affect significantly occupants' everyday practices and their interactions with the new measures: thermal comfort and pastexperiences with measures and controls; knowledge and skills (of both occupants and those involved in the project); design of the technical interventions (systems/measures) and quality of their installation. The findings from this research showed that active measures (such as intelligent and conventional heating controls, MVHR boosters, etc.) fostered direct interaction with active users when there were no design or installation faults. On the contrary, low-carbon measures that are designed and installed to be passive (such as MVHR systems operation) tend, in practice, to involve indirect interactions with active users. The research findings provide an insight into the 'in-use' factors, demonstrating to policy makers and implementers of mass refurbishment programmes the need for a framework where critical combinations of different measures and design solutions are targeted on specific house types, locations and households, in order to achieve maximum savings. Higher standards in installation of the new measures and improved quality control are also found to be a key part of refurbishment policies.

This study presents a framework for the introduction of energy considerations into the design of office buildings. The method of research and development of this study has been through a literature search combined with personal design experience in the field of commercial buildings, and the previous participation in the national competition for low energy building design. The thesis is in two parts. The first part investigates the historical development of offices up to now and shows that current office design practice establishes a pattern of high energy consumption that is carried forward for decades. It is shown how and where energy is used in office buildings and their urban context. The need to rethink settlement patterns is outlined and the concept of decentralization and mixed use developments is suggested to improve overall energy efficiency in the urban context. The second part presents energy conservation strategies, from a designer's point of view, that improve energy efficiency of office buildings. Five basic strategies are introduced and examined at the planning levels of site, lay-out, form and fabric: i) to control internal heat gains ii) to control solar heat gains iii) to minimize heat losses iv) to optimize natural ventilation v) to maximize daylight capabilities of buildings The thesis shows that the implementation of these strategies presents the architect with considerable scope for innovation rather than imposition. However, it is emphasized that the architect must be aware of the consequences of his design decisions. The factors causing the energy use in office buildings are interrelated. Therefore, once a particular strategy is adopted its consequences have to be recognized and dealt with on all planning levels. The thesis concludes that energy conservation offers architects the opportunity to design offices in a way they need less energy and provide a better working environment than it is the case today. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

As the largest consumer of electricity, the buildings sector accounts for about 76% of electricity use and 40% of all U.S. primary energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Research shows that a potential energy saving of 34.78% could be achieved by the smart buildings comparing to conventional buildings. Therefore, a smart management of building sectors becomes significantly important to achieve the optimal interior comfort with minimal energy expenditure. The ability of adaptation to the dynamic environments is considered the central aspect in smart building systems, which can be segmented into the passive adaptation and the active adaptation. The passive adaptation refers to the designs that do not change with the dynamic environment but improve the building overall performance by the integration of originally separated components, or by the application of advanced engineering materials. The active adaptation refers to the building management system (BMS) that actively responds and evolves with the changing environment, through the continuous monitoring of the surroundings via the sensor network, and the smart response through the controlling algorithms in the central controlling unit. This Ph.D. dissertation focuses on developing materials and systems for the smart building envelope, including a photovoltaic integrated roof with passive adaptation, and self-powered window systems with active responses environment. As the skin of a building, the building envelope provides the first level resistance towards air, water, heat, light and noise, which makes it the ideal target for the passive adaptation to the environments, as well as the perfect sensing location in the building management system for the active adaptation. This dissertation starts with a discussion of the building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) roofing panel, including the fabrication, performance demonstration, and micromechanics-based theoretical modeling. The panel is structurally supported by a functionally graded material (FGM) panel made with high-density polyethylene as the matrix and aluminum particles as reinforcement. It prevents the heat from entering the building and directs the heat to the water tubes embedded inside the panel for the thermal energy harvesting, such that the overall energy efficiency is significantly improved. The design, fabrication and performance of the system is discussed, and an innovative non-destructive analysis method is developed to captures the authentic particle distribution of the FGM. As the main structural component, functionally graded material is comprehensively tested and modeled in elastic, thermoelastic, elastoplastic, and thermo-elastoplastic performance, based on the equivalent inclusion based method. An ensemble average approach was used to convert the particles’ interaction in the microscope to the averaged relation in the macroscope, such that both particle to matrix influence and particle to particle pair-wise interactions are characterized. The idea of the equivalent inclusion method extends to the plastic modeling of the FGM, by formulating an ensemble average form of the matrix stress norm in the macroscale that incorporate the local disturbance of particle reinforcement in the microscale. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is verified and validated by comparing with another theory in homogeneous composite and experiments, respectively. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no prior theoretical algorithm has been proposed for the elastoplastic modeling of functionally graded materials. Therefore, the proposed algorithm can be used as a foundation and reference for further investigation and industry prediction of graded composites. Based on the theoretical modeling of the mechanical properties, a high order plate theory is also proposed in this dissertation to study for the thermo-mechanical performance of the FGM panel, to provide structural design guideline for the BIPVT panels. The shearing and bending behaviors are decomposed, solved independently, and combined to formulate the final solution. The shear strain components are assumed to follow a parabolic variation across the thickness, while the bending components follow the solution from classical plate theory. Closed-form solutions for the circular panel under different loadings are provided, with verification by comparing to other models and validation to experiments. Two smart window systems are proposed and demonstrated in this dissertation to actively monitor the building environment with active responses, and energy harvesting techniques are investigated to harvest energy from ambient environment the eternal power supply to the system. The thermoelectric powered wireless sensor network (TPWSN) platform is first demonstrated and discussed, where the energy is harvested from the temperature difference across the window frame. The TPWSN sits completely inside the window/façade frame with no compromise of the outlook and continuously monitors the building environment for the optimal control of the building energy consumption and indoor comfort. The energy harvesting technique grants eternal battery lifetime and significantly simplifies the installation and maintenance of the system with considerable saving of time and cost. In addition, the platform provides energy to various types of sensors for different kinds of sensing needs and store the data to the Google cloud for permanent storage and advanced analytics. The thermoelectric powered system works well for the sensors and microcontrollers but fails to provide enough power to the actuators. A novel sun-powered smart window blinds (SPSWB) system is designed, prototyped, and tested in this dissertation with solar energy harvesting on window blinds which provides enough power for the actuators. The thin-film photovoltaic cells are attached on one side of slats for energy harvesting and a PVdF-HFP coating is attached on the other side for the passive cooling. The voltage regulation and battery management systems are designed and tested, where a stable 55% energy efficiency from the PV into the battery has been achieved. The automatic control of the window blinds is accomplished with the help of sensors and a microcontroller. The energy equilibrium analysis is proposed and demonstrated with the local solar data to incorporate the influence of local weather conditions and solar zenith angle, from which we demonstrated that much more power than needed can be harvested. The abundant energy harvested validates the feasibility and the robustness of the system and proves its wide application potentials to various sensors and applications. In conclusion, both passive and active adaptations to the environment are investigated to build up the next generation of smart building envelope systems. The building integrated photovoltaic thermal roof is designed, fabricated, tested, and modeled in detail, which provides structural support to the external loads and improves the energy efficiency of buildings. The smart window/façade systems serve as a platform for various sensors and actuators via the energy harvesting from the ambient environment, and could significantly improve the energy expenditure with minimal impact of internal comfort.

Energy conscious design should become an inherent part of the design process. This study shall present energy conscious guidelines in a format that can be integrated into the decision-making process. The three elements which can be manipulated through this design process are outlined to provide a source of reference for the designer. The passive solar energy systems, the landscaping, and the building form allow an integration and optimization of their inherent components to achieve energy conscious design. The material is specifically formatted to appeal to the designer's need to quickly locate the material and then to easily review its contents. An outline format is maintained throughout the study that remains concise in presentation with abundant references to illustrations. This study does not attempt to fully educate the user on the subjects presented, nor is all the information contained herein. These guidlines attempt to provide a basis for energy conscious design in the decision-making process and to encourage the designer to become more versed in these areas. / M. Arch.

This study measures the shading properties of tree branches as they affect the amount of available sunlight (insolation) reaching structures placed within the visible tree shadow. Measurement was accomplished by placing a grid in throughout the entire shadow pattern formed, by each study tree between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Data was collected at each point of the grid to determine the percent insolation blockage or penetration, through a tree canopy. This data was then transferred to a graphed tree shadow pattern and interpolated to create tree shading density contours in the tree shadow pattern. Data was analyzed to determine the effects of sample tree shadow patterns upon the passive solar heat gain of windows located within the tree shadow. This study offers as a guide to future research, the beginning of a tree typology. The typology categories trees commonly grown and available in Virginia, into form and size categories. The typology also begins to assimilate data collected by other researchers on summer and winter canopy densities, leaf drop, and leaf onset periods. The typology creates a framework for future research and serves as a means to record which trees have been investigated, and which have not. Another attribute of the typology is its potential benefit to designers. It can be utilized as a tree selection tool for energy-conserving landscape designs. Several additional questions and suggested improvements for data collection have been provided for those who care to continue research into this area. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although there are serious hurdles to overcome before green, energy-efficient homes become common; the technological and market-based foundations are already in place to support a shift in standard practice. Many organizations, from the federal government to local non-profits, are driving the transition to more efficient homebuilding practices through research, market-based competition, and tax incentives. However, many builders are resisting the transition, due to the fragmented nature of the building industry and a perceived lack of consumer demand. Because of the nature of the US economy, until American consumers understand green homes and demand builders to build them, green homebuilding will not reach its full potential. If building practices are left unchanged, inefficient homes will continue to cause dire consequences to the world because of their contribution to global climate change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoewel daar ernstige struikelblokke bestaan, wat oorkom moet word alvorens groen, energie-doelmatige wonings algemeen raak, is die tegnologiese en markgerigte grondslae reeds gelê om ’n verskuiwing in standaard-praktyk te onderskraag. Verskeie instansies – van die federale regering tot nie-winsgewende organisasies – verleen stukrag deur middel van navorsing, markgerigte mededinging en belastingaansporings aan die oorgang na meer doelmatige gebruike rondom praktyke ten opsigte van die konstruksie van huise. Weens die gefragmenteerde aard van die boubedryf en die waarneembare gebrek aan verbruikersaanvraag staan talle bouers egter die vermelde oorgang teen. Weens die aard van die VSA se ekonomie en totdat Amerikaanse verbruikers groen tuistes kan verkoop en by bouers aandring om hulle op te rig, sal groen woningkonstruksie nie sy volle potensiaal bereik nie. Indien boupraktyke onveranderd gelaat word, sal ondoelmatige wonings as gevolg van hulle bydrae tot globale klimaatsverandering steeds aaklige gevolge vir die wêreld tot gevolg hê.