With the rapid increase of the world energy demand and consumption, the method and techniques to analyze, improve and optimize energy conversion systems have to deal not only with direct fuel exergy (energy) consumption, but also with other resources, which have associated exergy consumptions, and with environmental impacts, such as global warming. A general method for energy conversion system analysis is presented in this thesis. This method uses exergy as a measure to compare and analyze the natural resource consumption (both fuels and materials) and the global warming impact of different energy conversion systems for their life-time. The method, which adds the fuel production exergy and material exergy into consideration, allows more complete exergy analyses to be conducted. The global warming impact due to the chemical emissions and impact associated with direct exergy consumption (fuel consumption) as well as system equipment materials consumption of the energy conversion system are considered together in this thesis. Based on the concept of exergy, the Total Equivalent Resource Exergy (TERE), which includes both direct resource exergy consumption and resource exergy needed to recover the total equivalent global warming gases of the energy conversion system, is proposed in this thesis. TERE uses exergy as a criterion to compare the energy conversion systems and providing information of how effective a system is regarding the use of natural resources. The calculation of TERE values for the selected energy conversion systems indicates that the resource exergy and the environmental impact exergy are both substantial impacts and should be compared together. This concept of TERE can be used as the objective function for energy system design and optimization. / Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (M. S.)--Building Construction, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Kathy Roper; Committee Member: Daniel Castro-Lacouture; Committee Member: Linda Thomas-Mobley. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

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.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-71). / x, 71 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm