La performance énergétique est un pilier pour réduire l'utilisation d'énergie non renouvelable, en plus de l'utilisation des énergies renouvelables. En fait, les bâtiments sont au cœur de la politique des performances énergétiques de l'UE puisque 40% de la consommation finale d'énergie et 36% des émissions de gaz à effet de serre provient des bureaux, magasins et autres bâtiments. Les bâtiments peuvent être considérés comme des systèmes dynamiques et le transfert de la chaleur dans les bâtiments peut être représenté en utilisant des modèles dynamiques. De cette façon, le transfert de la chaleur dans les bâtiments peut être décrit par des réseaux thermiques obtenus en utilisant la théorie des graphes et de la thermodynamique, et peuvent être déduits de l'équation de la chaleur classique. Les réseaux thermiques peuvent être exprimés comme un système d'équations différentielles et algébriques (DAE) qui peut être transformé en représentation d'état et obtenir un fonction de transfert à partir de laquelle un modèle autorégressif avec des variables exogènes (ARX) peut être obtenu. Ces différentes structures de modèle peuvent être utilisées pour identifier les paramètres physiques des réseaux thermiques, ce qui implique que la méthode peut être utilisée pour identifier la performance intrinsèque des bâtiments et aider à la réduction de la consommation d'énergie dans les bâtiments.Cela peut faciliter l'évaluation de la performance énergétique des bâtiments dans un cadre reproductible qui permet la comparaison entre différentes solutions constructives.Les principales contributions originales de cette thèse sont: 1) les réseaux thermiques sont présentées à partir de la théorie des graphes et de la thermodynamique, sans considérer l'analogie thermique-électrique; 2) l'équation classique de la chaleur est reliée explicitement avec un système de DAE (réseau thermique) par les éléments finis; 3) différentes transformations pour déduire des modèles du transfert de la chaleur avec signification physique, à partir de l'équation de la chaleur classique, sont présentées toutes ensemble; 4) les transformations entre les modèles sont effectuées à partir des réseaux thermiques jusqu’aux modèles autorégressifs avec des variables exogènes (ARX) et vice-versa; et 5) un critère de sélection de l'ordre du modèle par une analyse de fréquence des mesures est proposé. / Energy efficiency is one of the two pillars to decrease the use of non-renewable energy besides the use of renewables energies. In fact, buildings are central to the EU's energy efficiency policy, as nearly 40% of the final energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions take place in houses, offices, shops and other buildings. Buildings may be considered as dynamic systems and heat transfer in buildings may be represented using dynamic models. In this way, heat transfer in buildings may be described by thermal networks which may be stated considering graph theory and thermodynamics, and may be deduced from the classical heat equation. Thermal networks may be expressed as a system of linear differential algebraic equations (DAE) and the system of linear DAE may be transformed into a state-space representation from which an autoregressive model with exogenous (ARX) can be obtained. These different model structures may be used for identifying the physical parameters of thermal networks which implies that this methodology may be useful for identifying the intrinsic performance of buildings and tackling the reduction of non-renewable energy consumption in buildings. This may facilitate the assessment of energy efficiency of buildings within a reproducible framework which allows the comparison between different constructive solutions.The main original contributions of this dissertation are: 1) thermal networks are stated from graph theory and thermodynamics, leaving back the thermal-electrical analogy; 2) classical heat equation is connected explicitly to a system of DAE (thermal network) by using the finite elements; 3) the transformations for deducing heat transfer models with physical meaning from the classical heat equation are put altogether; 4) transformations between models may are done from thermal networks to autoregressive models with exogenous (ARX) and back; and 5) a criterion for selecting the order of the model by frequency analysis of measurements is proposed.

Este trabalho busca avaliar a eficiência energética e o conforto, em ambiente climatizado artificialmente, dos Hotéis Econômicos de redes internacionais em São Paulo. A avaliação levada a cabo concentrou-se nas unidades habitacionais (UH) desses hotéis, principal produto oferecido por eles, possuidoras de sistema de ar condicionado (SAC), apesar das condições climáticas e das características do uso não determinarem essa necessidade. Com base nos levantamentos sobre as características dos Hotéis Econômicos, foi escolhido um hotel de uma rede internacional em São Paulo como estudo de caso. Nele, avaliou-se o desempenho térmico por meio de medições de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar em duas UH, durante cinco dias. As características físicas desse hotel foram utilizadas como modelo-base para as simulações computacionais realizadas no software TAS NG (2005). A partir dos resultados obtidos nas medições, definiram-se os critérios que seriam utilizados nas variações do modelo paramétrico, resultando em um total de sete cenários, com diferentes características como: vidros, cortina interna, taxa de ventilação e período determinado para ventilação. Levando-se em conta as condições climáticas da cidade de São Paulo e as características físicas e ocupacionais dos apartamentos, verificou-se que é possível obter conforto térmico sem o uso de SAC. Nessas condições, utilizou-se como critério de avaliação o modelo adaptativo da Norma ASHRAE 55 (2004). Os dados dos dias mais representativos de verão e inverno forma utilizados na análise dos ganhos de calor. Foi também avaliado, para o período de um ano, o consumo de energia elétrica do SAC, para resfriamento e aquecimento. Os resultados obtidos auxiliaram na proposição de recomendações de projeto para essa tipologia, buscando soluções que aprimoram o aproveitamento das condições naturais favoráveis para a obtenção de conforto térmico, possibilitando a redução do consumo de energia decorrente do SAC nestes ambientes. Para ilustrar algumas recomendações foram feitos estudos preliminares para as UH e para o pavimento tipo, considerando a integração do SAC com soluções de projeto de arquitetura que favoreçam o melhor desempenho energético de Hotéis Econômicos ou de qualquer categoria. / This work aims to evaluate the energy efficiency and comfort level, in airconditioned environments of budget hotels, from international chains, in São Paulo, Brazil. The evaluation was directed to the apartments which are the hotels main product featuring air conditioning, even though the climate conditions and usage profile dont determine its need. One hotel from an international chain was chosen as a case study based on research of budget hotels main features. The hotel had its thermal performance evaluated through air temperature and humidity measurements, in two apartments, for five days. Its physical characteristics were inputted into the TAS NG (2005) software as a base model for simulations. The measurements results defined the criteria used in the parametric model, resulting in a total of seven scenarios with different characteristics such as glass, internal shades, ventilating rates and period. Considering São Paulos climatic conditions, the physical and occupational characteristics of the apartments, it was verified that it is possible to reach thermal comfort without the use of air conditioning. The evaluating criterion used in these conditions was an adaptive model from the ASHRAE 55 (2004) Norm. Data from the most representative days of summer and winter were used in the analysis. There was also an evaluation of the energy consumption of the air condition- ing system, used for cooling and heating purposes, for a period of one year. The results favored the proposal for project recommendations for this typology, seeking solutions to improve the capacity to harness the favorable natural conditions to obtain thermal comfort, allowing for energy consumption reduction due to air conditioning. To illustrate the recommendations some preliminary studies were prepared for the apartments and pavement type, considering the integration of the air conditioning system with architectural design solutions that favor a better energy performance of budget hotels or of any other category.

The building industry makes up a considerable fraction of world&amp / #8217 / s energy consumption. The adverse effects of a growing energy demand such as depletion in fossil fuel reserves and natural resources hassled the building industry to a search for new technologies that result in less energy consumption together with the maximum utilization of natural resources. Energy- and ecology-conscious European countries incorporated the well-being of occupants while conducting research on innovative technologies. In view of the fact that double-skin fa&ccedil / ades offer a healthy and comfortable milieu for the occupants and use natural resources hence consume less energy they became a promising invention for all concerns. The analysis of the performance of the double-skin fa&ccedil / ades and energy consumption is inconclusive at this time. However, based upon thermal performance analysis have been done so far, a double-skin fa&ccedil / ade perform better and provide some energy reduction, particularly on the heating side cycle, from a standard double glazed unit wall. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between double-skin fa&ccedil / ades and building management systems in intelligent office buildings as they relate to energy efficiency issues thus to find out whether or not the integration of these systems into intelligent buildings provides optimization in energy performance and comfort conditions. The building for the case study, which is an intelligent office building incorporating a double-skin fa&ccedil / ade was selected as one that promises high comfort conditions for the occupants with low energy consumption. The working principles of integrated fa&ccedil / ade systems, together with their advantages and disadvantages were investigated by means of the case study. It was concluded that due to their high initial costs, these systems offer no real advantages for today. However with the inevitable exhaustion of fossil fuels that is foreseen for the future, these systems would become an innovative solution in terms of energy conservation.

Dans un objectif de réduction des consommations énergétiques et des impacts environnementaux, la pompe à chaleur (PAC) s'est imposée comme une alternative aux systèmes à combustion fossile pour le chauffage et la production d'eau chaude sanitaire dans les secteurs résidentiel et tertiaire. Les industriels ne cessent de chercher à accroitre la performance énergétique des pompes à chaleur. Toutefois, un phénomène encore mal maitrisé limite les progrès : le givrage. En effet, dans certaines conditions de température et d'humidité de l'air extérieur, du givre peut se former sur la surface de l'évaporateur de la PAC, provoquant ainsi une chute de performance. En France, près de 98 % des PAC du marché utilisent l'air extérieur comme source de chaleur et sont donc exposées à ce phénomène. Malgré des logiques de dégivrage de plus en plus sophistiquées mises en œuvre par les industriels, le fonctionnement cyclique givrage/dégivrage réduit fortement les performances des PAC. Pour optimiser les méthodes de dégivrage, il est nécessaire de comprendre en amont, les mécanismes d'apparition et de croissance du givre. Ce travail de thèse propose ainsi d'étudier la formation et le développement du givre sur une plaque plane refroidie. Une étude approfondie de la bibliographie a permis d'établir des bases de données regroupant des points expérimentaux de l'épaisseur et de la masse volumique du givre. Des modèles et corrélations de formation du givre disponibles dans la littérature ont été reproduits et appliqués à ces bases de données afin d'évaluer la capacité de prédiction de chacun de ces modèles. Les plus performants ont ainsi pu être identifiés. En parallèle, un banc d'essais a été conçu pour observer la formation et la croissance du givre sur une plaque plane. L'étude de sensibilité menée sur la température de l'air, la température de la plaque froide, la vitesse de l'air et l'humidité relative a permis d'évaluer l'impact de ces paramètres sur la formation du givre, et plus particulièrement sur trois de ses propriétés : l'épaisseur, la masse volumique et la conductivité thermique. L'humidité relative et la température de la plaque froide ont été identifiées comme les paramètres prépondérants. Un des résultats importants de ce travail a été de mettre en évidence le rôle de la structure du givre sur ses propriétés (masse volumique et conductivité). Les points expérimentaux obtenus sur le banc d'essais ont été comparés aux résultats issus des modèles de la littérature. Les méthodes de prédiction identifiées comme satisfaisantes dans la partie bibliographique de cette thèse ont fourni des résultats similaires d'un point de vue statistique. Des perspectives de travail ont également été proposées. / In the energy consumption and environmental impact reduction goal, heat pumps emerged as an alternative to fossil fuel systems for space heating and hot water production in residential and tertiary sectors. Manufacturers still try to improve energy performance of heat pumps. However, a non-controlled phenomenon is limiting progress: frosting. Indeed, in some outdoor air temperature and relative humidity conditions, frost can form on the heat pump evaporator surface, leading to performance reduction. On the French market, almost 98 % of the heat pumps are using outdoor air as heat source and are thus affected. Despite more and more sophisticated defrosting strategies, the frosting/defrosting cyclic operation strongly reduces heat pump performance. For optimizing defrosting strategies, there is a need understanding frost appearance and growth mechanisms. This PhD work thus proposes to study frost formation and development on a cold plane plate. An in-depth bibliography study helped establishing databases gathering experimental points on frost thickness and frost density. Models and correlations of frost formation available in the literature have been reproduced and applied to the databases in order to evaluate their prediction capacity. The most performing models have been identified. Meanwhile, an experimental bench allowing visualization of frost formation and development on a cold plane plate has been set up. The sensitivity analysis on air temperature, cold plate temperature, air velocity and relative humidity allowed an evaluation of these parameters impact on frost formation, and more particularly on three of its properties thickness, density and thermal conductivity. Relative humidity and cold plate temperature have been identified as the leading parameters. One of the main results of this work was to highlight the frost crystal structure role on properties (i.e. density and thermal conductivity). Experimental data points obtained with the test bench have been compared to the results provided by literature models. Predictive methods identified as satisfying in the bibliography study gave similar results (from a statistical point of view). Perspectives for future work have also been proposed.

A preocupação energética tem impulsionado a humanidade a buscar alternativas sustentáveis de energia. Neste contexto, os edifícios de escritórios têm um papel importante, em especial, devido ao elevado consumo de energia dos sistemas de condicionamento de ar. Para esses sistemas, a possibilidade de utilização de energia solar é uma alternativa tecnicamente possível e interessante de ser considerada, principalmente porque, quando a carga térmica do edifício é mais elevada, a radiação solar também é mais elevada. Dentre os sistemas de condicionamento de ar solar, o sistema térmico - que associa coletores solares térmicos com chiller de absorção - é o mais disseminado, na atualidade. Entretanto, dependendo do caso, outras tecnologias podem ser vantajosas. Uma opção, por exemplo, no caso de edifícios de escritórios, é o sistema elétrico - que associa painéis fotovoltaicos ao chiller convencional de compressão de vapor. Neste trabalho, para um edifício de escritórios de 20 pavimentos e 1000 m2 por pavimento, na cidade de São Paulo, no Brasil, duas alternativas de ar condicionado solar tiveram seus desempenhos energéticos analisados: o sistema térmico - com coletores solares térmicos somente na cobertura e o sistema elétrico - com painéis FV somente nas superfícies opacas das fachadas. Para isso, com o software EnergyPlus do Departamento de Energia dos Estados Unidos obteve-se as carga térmica atuantes no edifício e com a aplicação do método de cálculo de consumo de energia dos sistemas de ar condicionado solar, proposto pelo Projeto SOLAIR da União Européia, adaptado para a realidade da pesquisa, obteve-se o desempenho energético dos sistemas. Os resultados mostraram que, para o edifício de 20 pavimentos, o sistema elétrico tem o melhor desempenho energético, economizando 28% e 71% da energia elétrica que consumiria um sistema de ar condicionado convencional, em um dia de verão e de inverno, respectivamente. O sistema térmico, ao contrário, apresentou um desempenho energético ruim para o edifício estudado, consumindo, por exemplo, em um dia de verão, cerca de 4 vezes mais energia elétrica do que um sistema de ar condicionado convencional. Constatouse que isso ocorreu, pois a área coletora limitada à cobertura foi insuficiente para atender a demanda do chiller de absorção, que passou a operar com frações solares baixas, da ordem de 50% e 20%, de pico, no dia de inverno e de verão, respectivamente. Assim, constatou-se que para que o sistema térmico apresente um desempenho energético satisfatório é preciso que o edifício não seja tão alto. De fato, os resultados mostraram que somente se o edifício tivesse no máximo 2 pavimentos, o sistema térmico teria um desempenho energético melhor do que um sistema convencional. No caso de ser aplicado ao edifício térreo de 1000m2 de área, por exemplo, esse sistema economizaria aproximadamente 65% da energia elétrica do sistema convencional. Por fim, constatou-se também que o desempenho energético do sistema térmico seria elevado com a otimização da área e da tecnologia de coletores solares, com o aprimoramento do sistema de aquecimento auxiliar e com a redução da carga térmica do edifício por meio de técnicas passivas de climatização. / Energy concern has driven human kind to seek sustainable energy alternatives. In this context, office buildings have an important role, especially due to the high energy consumption of air conditioning systems. For these systems, the possibility of using solar energy is technically feasible and interesting to be considered, mainly because generally when the building thermal load is higher, the solar radiation is also higher. Among solar airconditioning systems, the thermal system - which combines solar collectors with absorption chiller - is the most widespread, nowadays. However, depending on the case, other technologies may take advantage. One option, for example, in the case of office buildings, is the electrical system - which combines photovoltaic panels with conventional vapor compression chiller. In this work, an office building of 20 floors with 1,000 m2 floor area, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, two technologies of solar air conditioning had their performance analyzed: the thermal system - presenting solar thermal collectors only on the roof and the electrical system with PV panels only on the opaque surfaces of the facades. For this, the software EnergyPlus of the United States Department of Energy obtained the building thermal load and the with the solar air conditioning energy consumption calculating method proposed by SOLAIR project of the European Union and adapted to this work, energy performance of systems was obtained. The results showed that for this building, the electrical system had the best energy performance, saving 28% and 71% of electricity that would consume a conventional air conditioning system in a summer day and a winter day, respectively. The thermal system, in contrast, showed a poor energy performance, consuming, for example, on a summer day, about four times more electricity than a conventional air conditioning system. It was found that this occurred because the collectors area limited to the roof of the building was insufficient to meet the absorption chiller demand, causing low solar fractions in the operation, of around 50% and 20% peak, in a winter day and in a summer day, respectively. Thus, in order of provide a satisfactory energy performance, the thermal system requires that the building not to be so tall. In fact, the results showed that only if the building had up to two floors, the system would perform better than a conventional system. In case of be installed in a building with the ground floor only, and floor area of 1000m2, for example, this system would save about 65% of the electricity comparing to a conventional system. Finally, it was found that this energy performance would be elevated as well with the optimization of solar collectors area and technology, with auxiliary heating system improvement and with the reduction of thermal load of the building by means of passive air conditioning techniques.

Le comportement humain est modélisé de manière sommaire dans les logiciels de simulation énergétique des bâtiments. Or son impact est considérable et il est à l'origine d'écarts importants entre résultats de simulation et mesures in situ. Les occupants influencent les consommations d'énergie des bâtiments par leur présence et leurs activités, les ouvertures/fermetures de fenêtres, la gestion des dispositifs d'occultation, l'utilisation de l'éclairage artificiel et des appareils électriques, la gestion des consignes de chauffage et les puisages d'eau chaude sanitaire. La thèse propose une modélisation de l'occupation incluant l'ensemble de ces aspects suivant une approche stochastique statistique, pour les bâtiments résidentiels et de bureaux. La construction des modèles fait appel à un grand nombre de données issues de campagnes de mesures, d'enquêtes sociologiques et de la littérature scientifique. Le modèle d'occupation proposé est couplé à l'outil de simulation thermique dynamique Pléiades+COMFIE. En propageant les incertitudes des facteurs du modèle d'occupation et du modèle thermique (enveloppe, climat, systèmes), un intervalle de confiance des résultats de simulation peut être estimé, ouvrant ainsi la voie à un processus de garantie de performance énergétique. / Human behaviour is modelled in a simplistic manner in building energy simulation programs. However, it has a considerable impact and is identified as a major explanatory factor of the discrepancy between simulation results and in situ measurements. Occupants influence buildings energy consumption through their presence and activities, the opening/closing of windows, the actions on blinds, the use of artificial lighting and electrical appliances, the choices of temperature setpoints, and the water consumptions. The thesis proposes a model of occupants' behaviour including all these aspects, according to a stochastic approach, for residential and office buildings. Models' development is based on numerous data from measurements campaigns, sociological surveys and from the scientific literature. The proposed model for occupants' behaviour is coupled to the simulation tool Pléiades+COMFIE. By propagating the uncertainties of factors from the occupants' behaviour model and the thermal model (envelope, climate, systems), the simulation results confidence interval can be estimated, opening the way to an energy performance guarantee process.

Ce travail de thèse vise à comprendre et analyser les échanges thermiques qui ont lieu entre un bâtiment et son environnement en présence de parois végétalisées « intensives ». Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit, une démarche numérique et expérimentale sur l’évaluation de l’incidence thermique de ces Murs Végétalisés (MV). Une plateforme constituée de trois prototypes identiques (3 mini-laboratoires thermiques) sous conditions climatiques réelles a été conçue et instrumentée. Dans un premier temps, deux écrans permettant une variation rapide et graduelle des taux de couvertures de 10 à 100% ont été ajoutés devant les prototypes. Ainsi, plusieurs séries de mesures ont été effectuées et des réductions significatives au niveau des températures et des flux de chaleur ont été enregistrées et interprétées. Cette démarche expérimentale avait pour premier objectif de mettre en oeuvre une occultation artificielle et donc maîtrisée. Un premier modèle a été développé sur la base de l’écriture des équations de bilan des échanges thermiques entre la paroi à occultation variable et son environnement climatique. Ce modèle confronté aux résultats fournis par l’expérimentation apermis de valider les approches théoriques au niveau des transferts radiatifs et convectifs. Dans un deuxième temps, le premier modèle qui a été développé dans ce travail a été adapté au cas d’une occultation « réelle » par de la végétation (lierre ou vigne vierge) puis validé expérimentalement. Il a été finalement implémenté dans un code de simulation thermique dynamique de bâtiment (TRNSYS), et ainsi l’incidence thermique des murs végétalisés simples (intensifs) a pu être évaluée à l’échelle réelle d’un bâtiment. Les résultats de simulations pour un climat tempéré montrent que la présence des plantes à feuilles persistantes a un impact négatif sur la demande énergétique hivernale. A l’inverse, en période estivale, les résultats montrent que les murs végétalisés ont un intérêt au niveau de la limitation des surchauffes. Leur présence réduit alors notablement la consommation énergétique nécessaire pour « climatiser » le bâtiment et améliore ainsi le confort thermique intérieur. / This PhD thesis aims to understand and analyse the heat exchanges that occur between a building and its environment in the presence of intensive vegetated walls. In this manuscript, a numerical and experimental approach to evaluate the thermal impact of green walls is presented. A platform composed of three identical prototypes (3 thermal mini-laboratories) under real weather conditions has been designed and instrumented. As a first step, two screens permitting a rapid and gradual variation of coverage rate from 10 to 100% were added to the prototypes. Thus, several series of measurements were performed and significant reductions in temperature and heat flow were recorded and interpreted. The primary objective of this experimental approach was to implement an artificial shading and thus controlled. A first model was developed based on the writing of heat exchanges energy balance equations between the wall with variable coverage rate and its climatic environment. This model confronted to the experimental results allowed the validation of the theoreticalapproaches at the level of radiative and convective heat transfer. Secondly, the first model that was developed in this work has been adapted to the case of a "real" occultation by vegetation (Ivy or Virginia creeper) then validated experimentally.It was finally implemented in a dynamic thermal simulation code (TRNSYS), and thus the thermal impact of green walls were evaluated at the real scale of a building. Simulation results in a temperate climate show that the presence of evergreen plants has a negative impact on winter energy demand. Conversely, in summer, the results show that green walls have an interest in limiting overheating. Their presence significantly reduces energy consumption needed to cool the building and improves the indoor thermal comfort.

Étant de plus en plus isolés, les bâtiments très performants sont très sensibles aux apports solaires transmis par les vitrages ainsi qu'aux apports internes. Dans ce contexte, l'inertie thermique peut être utile en stockant l'énergie excédentaire et en réduisant les variations de température, améliorant ainsi le confort thermique.Évaluer la performance énergétique, environnementale et le confort thermique des bâtiments nécessite des outils de simulation thermique dynamique (STD) fiables. Historiquement, les modélisateurs ont essayé de trouver un compromis approprié entre précision et efficacité. Des hypothèses simplificatrices ont alors été intégrées dans les outils STD et ont un lien étroit avec l'inertie thermique. La validité de telles hypothèses, notamment la globalisation des échanges convectifs et radiatifs GLO intérieurs, ou la distribution forfaitaire des apports solaires transmis par les vitrages nécessitent particulièrement d'être remises en questions dans le contexte des bâtiments très isolés.Ainsi, un modèle découplant les échanges convectifs et radiatifs GLO ainsi qu'un modèle de suivi de la tache solaire (modèles détaillés) ont été implémentés dans une plateforme de simulation mettant en œuvre l'analyse modale et une discrétisation par volumes finis.Une première comparaison entre les modèles détaillés et simplifiés a été réalisée sur des cas d'études du "BESTEST", intégrant aussi des résultats d'outils STD de référence au niveau international (EnergyPlus, ESP-r, TRNSYS). Un travail similaire a été réalisé sur le cas d'une maison passive instrumentée (plateforme INCAS à Chambéry) en utilisant des techniques d'analyses d'incertitudes et de sensibilité.Les résultats montrent qu'une tendance à la baisse concernant les besoins de chauffage et de refroidissement existe en ce qui concerne les modèles détaillés considérés ici. D'autre part, il semble que ces modèles détaillés ne contribuent pas à diminuer significativement les écarts entre les simulations et les mesures. / Being highly insulated, low energy buildings are very sensitive to variable solar and internal gains. In this context, thermal mass is useful by storing surplus energy and reducing temperature variation, thus improving thermal comfort.Assessing energy, environmental and thermal comfort performances requires reliable building dynamic thermal simulation (DTS) tools. Historically, model developers have tried to find a fair-trade between accuracy and simulation efficiency within a fit-to-purpose philosophy. Simplifying assumptions have therefore been integrated into DTS tools and have a close relation with thermal mass. The validity of such assumptions, for instance constant interior convective and infrared radiative superficial exchange coefficients, or fixed distribution of solar gains transmitted through windows, particularly need to be reassessed in the case of high performance buildings.A first comparison between detailed and simplified models has been performed according to the "BESTEST", integrating also international DTS reference tools (EnergyPlus, ESP-r, TRNSYS). Similar work, but using uncertainty and sensivitivity methods has been carried out using experimental measurements on a passive building (INCAS platform in Chambéry). The results show a trend for the detailed models studied here to estimate lower heating and cooling loads. Furthermore, it seems that these detailed models don't contribute to reduce significantly discrepancies between simulations and measurements.

This dissertation seeks to contribute to the policy discussion on how to design efficient and sustainable energy policies. In three self-contained chapters, it applies microeconomic theory and empirical analysis to identify three market failures in European energy markets and to evaluate specific policy measures that strive to overcome these failures in order to increase market efficiency and to enhance environmental or societal sustainability. Chapter 1 and 2 study European electricity markets, which play an important role in the transition towards a carbon-neutral energy future. Overcoming barriers to efficient electricity markets is a crucial step to keep the costs of this transition as low as possible to society. Both chapters focus on obstacles to electricity market efficiency that have recently been highlighted by the European Commission. On the supply side, subsidies for renewable electricity may distort production incentives and competition in wholesale electricity markets. Chapter 1 applies a theoretical model to study the effect of different subsidies on producer strategies and competition in wholesale electricity markets. On the demand side, the European Commission seeks to overcome the reluctance of residential electricity consumers to switch electricity supplier in order to ensure effective competition in the retail electricity market. Chapter 2 empirically quantifies different reasons for switching inertia using a structural discrete choice model and performs counterfactual analysis to study the effect of different policy measures that seek to overcome switching inertia. Chapter 3 looks at the building sector, which accounts for 40% of final energy consumption in Europe and is a major emitter of carbon emissions. In the residential housing market information asymmetries hamper incentives to invest in energy efficiency improvements of rental property. This chapter empirically analyzes the effect of a European policy that mandates the use of energy performance certificates aiming at establishing an efficient market for energy efficient dwellings. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The effort to limit the usage of primary energies highly relevant and topical issue on both European and global level. The wide and diverse industry area, especially the technological equipment of operation, still offer a large potential for such savings. Some of the tools that can be used to lower the consumption and overall operational costs are the energy management system and the energy audit, which helps to identify working areas with a potential for savings and efficiency improvements. However, the current approach to energy audit is not sufficient when it comes to technologies. Which is why this thesis aims at designing a universal methodology for audits with a focus on manufacturing and processing equipment, which will be easily applicable in various types of industrial production.