This report aims to investigate the possibility of making roof gutter heating systems more energy efficient while maintaining their performance. With a societal target of becoming climate-neutral, all energy use needs to be minimized and without previous research on the subject, real estate owners may have overused electricity in their efforts. The report assesses available conventional systems, how they work, and their composition. With the help of meteorological data a new system was created that would reduce energy use drastically. The findings state that depending on the earlier system installed by companies the new improved system would only use between 2.5-52% of the energy used by the conventional systems. This is largely because the conventional systems are primitive and has not been updated to a central and internet-connected control system. It is this implementation of online meteorological data and using that data in developed dynamic controlling systems that has led to a decrease in energy use for roof gutter heating systems.

Providing conditioned and fully controlled room is the final goal for having a comfortable building. But on the other hand making smart controllers to provide the required cooling or heating load depending on occupants' real time feeling is necessary. This study has emphasized on finding a meaningful and steady state parameter in human body that can be interpreted as comfort criterion which can be expressed as the general occupants' sensation through their ambient temperature. There are lots of researches on human physiological behavior in different situations and also different body parts reaction to the same ambient situation. Body parts which have the biggest reliable linear fluctuation to the changes are the best subject for this research. For these tests, wrist and palm have been selected and their temperatures on different people have been measured accurately with thermal camera to follow the temperature trend on various comfort levels. It is found that each person reaches to his own unique temperature on these two spots, when he/ she feels comfortable, or in other word each person's body temperature is a precise nominate for comfort feeling of that individual. So in future by having this unique comfort parameter and applying them to the HVAC system temperature control, controlling the dynamic temperature and correlating the indoor condition depending on the occupants instant thermal comfort level, would be a rational choice to bring convenience while energy has been saved more.

Industrial and mining sectors are amongst the largest single energy consumers in South Africa, making them a primary focus for implementing energy saving initiatives. Refrigeration systems on mines are responsible for consuming up to25 % of the electrical energy consumption on a typical South African deep level mine. Ample opportunities to reduce the energy consumption of these systems exists, as many of the current systems rely on old technology and function under partial or inadequate control management. In compiling this thesis, various energy saving strategies on deep level mines were investigated. In specific, the effects of controlling and improving the cooling auxiliaries. Scenarios were investigated and simulated, where after an optimum solution was implemented. Implementations, such as the ones covered in this dissertation, form part of the IDM (Integrated Demand Management) energy efficiency incentive introduced by Eskom, where funding is made available based on actual power saving; ensuring that the projects will be financially viable to the clients. Reduced electrical energy consumption realised from the abovementioned projects were measured, captured and compared to the consumption before project implementation to determine the achieved savings. Savings of up to 30 % of the plant installed capacity were realised, providing average savings of up to 2.3 MW per day. / Thesis (MIng (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Industrial and mining sectors are amongst the largest single energy consumers in South Africa, making them a primary focus for implementing energy saving initiatives. Refrigeration systems on mines are responsible for consuming up to25 % of the electrical energy consumption on a typical South African deep level mine. Ample opportunities to reduce the energy consumption of these systems exists, as many of the current systems rely on old technology and function under partial or inadequate control management. In compiling this thesis, various energy saving strategies on deep level mines were investigated. In specific, the effects of controlling and improving the cooling auxiliaries. Scenarios were investigated and simulated, where after an optimum solution was implemented. Implementations, such as the ones covered in this dissertation, form part of the IDM (Integrated Demand Management) energy efficiency incentive introduced by Eskom, where funding is made available based on actual power saving; ensuring that the projects will be financially viable to the clients. Reduced electrical energy consumption realised from the abovementioned projects were measured, captured and compared to the consumption before project implementation to determine the achieved savings. Savings of up to 30 % of the plant installed capacity were realised, providing average savings of up to 2.3 MW per day. / Thesis (MIng (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This thesis deals with the possibilities of financing housing, in particular savings instrument. The main goal is to determine, what are the differences between building savings banks, especially in the product. Another goal is to monitor and evaluate the options selected housing financing in the Czech Republic. The work focuses on market analysis, building societies and comparison of their products. The first part deals with the explanation of the concepts of housing and savings, including the establishment process of building savings and loan drawdown of savings. Attention is also paid to support housing programs from various government entities. Another part describes building savings banks operating on the Czech market. The last part describes and compares the conditions of products, what conclusions arise that are described in the summary at the end of work. Finally, the work summarizes the most important facts from all the chapters.

The main objective of the master’s thesis is elaboration of energy audit within the theme of energy rating of buildings. Work consists of the beginning to the given theme including the actual legislative regulations. Another part is elaboration of the energy audit of building municipality with design and rating the measures of reduction of energy consumptions. In experimental part work deals with evaluation of building thermal envelope with use of thermograph measurement, also with quality of indoor environment within the use of building by measurement of concentration of CO2 and with heat and humidity balance.

The aim of the thesis is a design of the best energy measures for a family house. At first there is carried out an energy assessment of the building. According to results of that survey there are drawn up some variants of measures. Furthermore, based on energy assessment results there is elaborated a project for reconstruction of the heating.

<p dir="ltr">Smart windows, dynamically adjusting optical transmittance, face global adoption challenges due to climatic and economic variability. Aiming these issues, we synthesized a methyl cellulose (MC) salt system with high tunability for intrinsic optical transmittance (89.3%), which can be applied globally to various locations. Specifically, the MC window has superior heat shielding potential below transition temperatures while turning opaque at temperatures above the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST), reducing the solar heat gain by 55%. Such optical tunability is attributable to the particle size change triggered by the temperature-induced reversible coil-to-globular transition. This leads to effective refractive index and scattering modulation, making them prospective solutions for light management systems, an application ahead of intelligent fenestration systems. MC-based windows demonstrated a 9°C temperature decrease compared to double-pane windows on sunny days and a 5°C increase during winters in field tests, while simulations predict an 11% energy savings.</p><p dir="ltr">Incorporating MC-based phase change materials in passive solar panels indicated optimized energy efficiency, offering a sustainable alternative. Real-time simulations validate practical applicability in large-scale solar panels. Furthermore, a temperature-responsive sorbent with a dark layer demonstrates an optimal optical and water uptake performance. Transitioning between radiative cooling and solar heating, the sorbent exhibits high water harvesting efficiency in lab and field tests. With an adjustable LCST at 38 ℃, the cellulose-based sorbent presents a potential solution for atmospheric water harvesting, combining optical switching and temperature responsiveness for sustainable water access. Furthermore, the ubiquitous availability of materials, low cost, and ease-of-manufacturing will provide technological equity and foster our ambition towards net-zero buildings and sustainable future.</p>

[EN] SUMMARY It is a fact that in our environment there is a water shortage that affects the agricultural and urban freshwater consumption. The environmental conditions of climate change will aggravate the situation in the coming years. The efficient management of water resources is, and will be, an important issue for society that must be addressed from a social and technological point of view. Although nonfarm consumption represents only 30% of the total demand for freshwater, the urban water use is the more worrying because it directly affects the lives of people. A shortage of water resources is answered from two points of view. On the one hand, increasing supply through an increase in water uptakes, transfers from surplus basins, or desalination. On the other hand the reduction of demand, or efficient demand management. It is from this approach where this research takes place. The aim of the thesis is to develop a methodology to select the most appropriate water saving system to equip a building. The selection process arises from two approaches, each corresponding to a different use of the building. For buildings intended to develop a productive activity a cost-benefit selection method is used. For other buildings, a multicriteria selection method is used. For this last situation, application of analytic hierarchy process to selection of water saving systems is chosen. For the implementation of the multicriteria selection method, a series of selection criteria have to be defined and considered: water conservation, energy conservation, social and environmental impact, design, and economic viability. Each device or water saving system should be characterized on the basis of each of these criteria. In the thesis has been developed the way to characterize the "water efficient systems" for every of the selection criteria defined. As part of the characterization process, it is necessary to know drinking water demand patterns produced in the building. To do this, a water consumption audit can be performed, for the existing buildings, or results of similar buildings can be extrapolated, in the event that the building were a new construction that is going to be equipped with water efficient systems. The thesis shows how to carry out an audit of water consumption of the building. Also, some studies of water demand patterns in residential buildings are set. A self-done study on water patterns demands in the area of Valencia is presented. For the economic viability of implementing water saving systems it is very important that the size of all its equipments are as tight as possible to the use made of them in the building. Therefore, a study of the optimal and economic dimensioning of rain water harvesting systems has been made. It has also been theoretically studied the generating capacity of water condensation in air conditioning systems, for its use in water supply facilities. This information is used for equipment sizing of this water saving system. As there was no verified information on the validity of the theoretical method, measurements have been performed to contrast them. Finally, in this thesis measurements, studies, analysis, and equipment characterization, had been performed to make available a complete methodology for multi-criteria selection of the most suitable water efficient systems to equip a given building. / [ES] RESUMEN Es una realidad que en nuestro entorno existe un déficit hídrico que afecta tanto al consumo agrícola de agua dulce como al consumo urbano de agua potable. Las condiciones ambientales de cambio climático agravarán la situación en los próximos años. La gestión eficiente de los recursos hídricos es, y será, un tema importante para la sociedad que debe ser abordado desde un punto de vista social y tecnológico. Aunque el consumo no agrícola supone sólo una 30% de la demanda total de agua dulce, es el uso urbano del agua, que consume la mayor parte de ese porcentaje, el más preocupante por cuanto afecta directamente a las condiciones de vida de las personas. A la escasez de recursos hídricos se responde desde dos perspectivas. Por un lado el aumento de la oferta, a través de un aumento de las captaciones, trasvases desde cuencas excedentarias, o desalación. Por otro lado la reducción o gestión eficiente de la demanda. Es desde este enfoque desde donde se desarrolla este trabajo de investigación. El objetivo de la tesis doctoral es desarrollar una metodología para la selección de los sistemas de ahorro de agua potable más adecuados para equipar en un edificio. El proceso de selección se plantea desde dos aproximaciones, correspondiendo cada uno de ellos a un uso diferente del edificio. Para los edificios destinados a desarrollarse una actividad productiva se utiliza un método de selección coste-beneficio. Para el resto de edificios se utiliza un método de selección multicriterio. Para esta situación se ha optado por aplicar el método del proceso analítico jerárquico a la selección de sistemas de ahorro de agua. Para la aplicación de la selección multicriterio, se han definido una serie de criterios a tener en cuenta: ahorro de agua, ahorro de energía, impacto socio-ambiental, diseño, y viabilidad económica. Cada dispositivo o sistema de ahorro de agua debe ser caracterizado en base a cada uno de estos criterios. En la tesis se ha desarrollado la forma de caracterizar los denominados "sistemas de hidroeficiencia" para cada uno de los criterios de selección definidos. Como parte del proceso de caracterización, es necesario conocer la forma de consumir agua potable que se produce en el edificio. Para ello se puede realizar una auditoría de demandas, en el caso que el edificio exista, o se debe extrapolar resultados de edificios similares, en caso que el edificio sea un edificio de nueva planta que se quiere equipar con los sistemas de hidroeficiencia, ya de partida. En la tesis se indica cómo llevar a cabo una auditoría del consumo de agua del edificio. Igualmente se exponen algunos estudios de patrones de consumo en edificios de viviendas, y se presenta un estudio propio sobre patrones de demanda en la zona de Valencia, para la que no existía información. Para la viabilidad económica de la implantación de los sistemas de ahorro tiene gran importancia que su tamaño sea lo más ajustado posible al uso que se hace de ellos en el edificio. Por ello, se ha hecho un estudio del dimensionado óptimo y económico de los sistemas de aprovechamiento de aguas pluviales. Igualmente se ha estudiado de forma teórica la capacidad de generación de agua de condensación de los sistemas de climatización, para su aprovechamiento en las instalaciones de suministro de agua. Dicha información se utiliza para el dimensionado de los equipos de ese sistema de hidroeficiencia. Como no había información contrastada sobre la validez del método teórico, se han realizado mediciones para contrastarlos. Con todo, en la tesis que se presenta se han realizado las mediciones, estudios, análisis y caracterización de equipos necesarios para que se disponga de una metodología completa para la selección multicriterio de los sistemas de hidroeficiencia más adecuados para equipar un determinado edificio. / [CA] RESUM És una realitat que en el nostre entorn hi ha un dèficit hídric que afecta tant el consum agrícola d'aigua dolça com al consum urbà d'aigua potable. Les condicions ambientals de canvi climàtic agreujaran la situació en els pròxims anys. La gestió eficient dels recursos hídrics és, i serà, un tema important per a la societat que ha de ser abordat des d'un punt de vista social i tecnològic. Encara que el consum no agrícola suposa només una 30% de la demanda total d'aigua dolça, és l'ús urbà de l'aigua, que consumix la major part d'eixe percentatge, el més preocupant ja que afecta directament les condicions de vida de les persones. A l'escassetat de recursos hídrics es respon des de dos perspectives. Per un costat l'augment de l'oferta, a través d'un augment de les captacions, transvasaments des de conques excedentàries, o dessalatge. Per un altre costat la reducció o gestió eficient de la demanda. És des d'este enfocament des d'on es desenrotlla este treball d'investigació L'objectiu de la tesi doctoral és desenrotllar una metodologia per a la selecció dels sistemes d'estalvi d'aigua potable més adequats per a equipar en un edifici. El procés de selecció es planteja des de dos aproximacions, corresponent cada un d'ells a un ús diferent de l'edifici. Per als edificis destinats a desenrotllar-se una activitat productiva s'utilitza un mètode de selecció cost-benefici. Per a la resta d'edificis s'utilitza un mètode de selecció multicriterio. Per a esta situació s'ha optat per aplicar el mètode del procés analític jeràrquic a la selecció de sistemes d'estalvi d'aigua. Per a l'aplicació de la selecció multicriterio, s'han definit una sèrie de criteris a tindre en compte: estalvi d'aigua, estalvi d'energia, impacte socioambiental, disseny, i viabilitat econòmica. Cada dispositiu o sistema d'estalvi d'aigua ha de ser caracteritzat basant-se en cada un d'estos criteris. En la tesi s'ha desenrotllat la forma de caracteritzar els denominats "sistemes de hidroeficiencia" per a cada un dels criteris de selecció definits. Com a part del procés de caracterització, és necessari conéixer la forma de consumir aigua potable que es produïx en l'edifici. Per a això es pot realitzar una auditoria de demandes, en el cas que l'edifici existisca, o s'ha d'extrapolar resultats d'edificis semblants, en cas que l'edifici siga un edifici de nova planta que es vol equipar amb els sistemes de hidroeficiencia, ja de partida. En la tesi s'indica com dur a terme una auditoria del consum d'aigua de l'edifici. Igualment s'exposen alguns estudis de patrons de consum en edificis de vivendes, i es presenta un estudi propi sobre patrons de demanda en la zona de València, per a la que no existia informació. Per a la viabilitat econòmica de la implantació dels sistemes d'estalvi té gran importància que la seua dimensió siga el més ajustat possible a l'ús que es fa d'ells en l'edifici. Per això, s'ha fet un estudi del dimensionat òptim i econòmic dels sistemes d'aprofitament d'aigües pluvials. Igualment s'ha estudiat de forma teòrica la capacitat de generació d'aigua de condensació dels sistemes de climatització, per al seu aprofitament en les instal·lacions de subministrament d'aigua. La dita informació s'utilitza per al dimensionat dels equips d'eixe sistema de hidroeficiencia. Com no hi havia informació contrastada sobre la validesa del mètode teòric, s'han realitzat mesuraments per a contrastar-los. Amb tot, en la tesi que es presenta s'han realitzat els mesuraments, estudis, anàlisi i caracterització d'equips necessaris perquè es dispose d'una metodologia completa per a la selecció multicriterio dels sistemes de hidroeficiencia més adequats per a equipar un determinat edifici. / López Patiño, G. (2016). Análisis y caracterización de las instalaciones interiores de suministro de agua desde el punto de vista de ahorro [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/61476

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration