1 - Toward a positive-net-energy residential building in Serbian conditions , a, Milorad Boji , Novak Nikoli a, Danijela Nikoli a, Jasmina Skerli a and

Ivan Mileti a a Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Sestre Janjic 6, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia Received 31 October 2010; revised 1 January 2011; accepted 6 January 2011. Available online 3 February 2011. Abstract This article reports investigations of a residential building in Serbian conditions energized by electricity from photovoltaics (PVs), and the electricity grid. The building uses electricity to run its space heating system, lighting and appliances, and to heat domestic hot water (DHW). The space heating system comprises floor heaters, a water-to-water heat pump, and a ground heat exchanger. The PV system generates electricity that either may be consumed by the building or may be fed-in the electricity grid. The electricity grid is used as electricity storage. Three residential buildings are investigated. The first residential building has PVs that yearly produce smaller amount of electricity than the heating system requires. This is a negative-net energy building (NNEB). The second building has the PVs that produce the exact amount of electricity that the entire building annually needs. This is a zero-net energy building (ZNEB). The third building has PVs that entirely cover the south-facing roof of the building. This is a positive-net energy building (PNEB). These buildings are presented by a mathematical model, partially in an EnergyPlus environment. For all buildings, simulations by using EnergyPlus software would give the generated, consumed, and purchased energy with time step, and monthly and yearly values. For sure, these buildings would decrease demand for electricity during summer, however they will increase this demand during winter when there is no sun and start of space heating is required. Depending on the size of PV array this building will be either NNEB, or ZNEB, or PNEB. However it is crucial for such a building to be connected to the electricity grid. The smaller payback for investment in the PV array is obtained for buildings with larger size of PV array. The feed-in tariff for the generation of electricity in Serbia should be under the constant watch to be corrected accordingly for larger penetration of this technology in the Serbian market. Keywords: Heat pump; Photovoltaic system; Energy consumption; ZNEB; PNEB Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261911000146 2 - Germany's path towards nearly zero-energy buildingsEnabling the greenhouse gas mitigation potential in the building stock

Sven Schimschara, , , Kornelis Blokb, Thomas Boermansa and Andreas Hermelinkc a Ecofys Germany GmbH, Am Wassermann 36, 50829 Cologne, Germany b Ecofys Netherlands BV, Kanaalweg 16-G, P.O. Box 8408, 3503 RK Utrecht, The Netherlands c Ecofys Germany GmbH, Energieforum, Stralauer Platz 34, 10243 Berlin, Germany Received 3 December 2010; accepted 9 March 2011. Available online 14 April 2011.

Abstract On 19 May 2010, the European Union adopted a Directive stipulating that by the end of 2020, Member States must ensure that all newly constructed buildings consume nearly zero energy. In Germany, drastic reductions of energy demand for space heating have already become a policy target over the last decade, both for new and existing dwellings. In this article, we evaluate the impact of past and future policies on the development of buildings with a very high energy performance (VHEP) and on their primary energy demand and emissions. These dwellings account for 4% of all dwellings which have been constructed since 2001 and 1% of the total building stock. We have defined different policy scenarios, all of which assume a gradual increase of requirements for new and existing buildings and a continuation of the support policies that stimulate both new constructions and ambitious refurbishments. In the most ambitious scenario, the proportion of VHEP dwellings will increase by up to 30% of the total stock in 2020 and the share of nearly zero and zero-energy dwellings will then make up 6%. This will lead to emission reductions of over 50% of the 1990 level and primary energy reductions of 25% compared with today. Highlights We evaluate the impact of past and future policies on the deployment of efficient buildings. Analyses of the possible energy and emission reduction potential by 2020 in different scenarios. Main focus is on the existing comprehensive support programs. The compliance of emission and energy targets for the German building sector is checked. We present the number of nearly zero- and zero-energy buildings in the stock. Keywords: Building stock; Energy efficiency; Emission reduction link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511002096

3 - From net energy to zero energy buildings: Defining life cycle zero energy buildings (LC-ZEB) and Paul Kennyb Patxi Hernandeza, , a UCD Energy Research Group, School of Architecture, Landscape & Civil Engineering University College Dublin, Richview, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland b UCD School of Architecture, Landscape & Civil Engineering University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Received 18 September 2009; revised 4 December 2009; accepted 10 December 2009. Available online 21 December 2009. Abstract There are various definitions of zero energy and net-zero energy building. In most cases, the definitions refer only to the energy that is used in the operation of the building, ignoring the aspects of energy use related to the construction and delivery of the building and its components. On the other hand the concept of net energy as used in the field of ecological economics, which does take into account the energy used during the production process of a commodity, is widely applied in fields such as renewable energy assessment. In this paper the concept of net energy is introduced and applied within the built environment, based on a methodology accounting for the embodied energy of building components together with energy use in operation. A definition of life cycle zero energy buildings (LCZEB) is proposed, as well as the use of the net energy ratio (NER) as a factor to aid in building design with a life cycle perspective. Keywords: Net energy; Building life cycle; Zero energy building; Embodied energy; Net-zero energy building; Life cycle energy analysis Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778809003247#secx11

4 - Enhancing the performance of building integrated photovoltaics Brian Nortona, , , Philip C. Eamesb, Tapas K. Mallickc, Ming Jun Huangd,Sarah J. McCormacke, Jayanta D. Mondold and Yigzaw G. Yohanisd [Author vitae] a Dublin Energy Laboratory, Focas Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland b Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physics Sciences, HeriotWatt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland d Centre for Sustainable Technologies, School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, BT 37 0QB, Ireland e Department of Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland Communicated by: Associate Editor Yogi Goswami. Available online 27 January 2010. Abstract Recent research in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is reviewed with the emphases on a range of key systems whose improvement would be likely to lead to improved solar energy conversion efficiency and/or economic viability. These include invertors, concentrators and thermal management systems. Advances in techniques for specific aspects of systems design, installation and operation are also discussed. Keywords: Photovoltaics; Buildings; Solar concentration; Inverters; Thermal management; Array sizing Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X09002369#s0110

5 - Performance of a building integrated photovoltaic/ thermal (BIPVT) solar collector Communicated by: Associate Editor Brian Norton T.N. Andersona, , , M. Dukea, G.L. Morrisonb and J.K. Carsona a Department of Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand b School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia Received 21 November 2007; revised 26 May 2008; accepted 25 August 2008. Available online 1 October 2008. Abstract The idea of combining photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors (PVT collectors) to provide electrical and heat energy is an area that has, until recently, received only limited attention. Although PVTs are not as prevalent as solar thermal systems, the integration of photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors into the walls or roofing structure of a building could provide greater opportunity for the use of renewable solar energy technologies. In this study, the design of a novel building integrated photovoltaic/ thermal (BIPVT) solar collector was theoretically

analysed through the use of a modified HottelWhillier model and was validated with experimental data from testing on a prototype BIPVT collector. The results showed that key design parameters such as the fin efficiency, the thermal conductivity between the PV cells and their supporting structure, and the lamination method had a significant influence on both the electrical and thermal efficiency of the BIPVT. Furthermore, it was shown that the BIPVT could be made of lower cost materials, such as pre-coated colour steel, without significant decreases in efficiency. Finally, it was shown that by integrating the BIPVT into the building rather than onto the building could result in a lower cost system. This was illustrated by the finding that insulating the rear of the BIPVT may be unnecessary when it is integrated into a roof above an enclosed air filled attic, as this air space acts as a passive insulating barrier. Keywords: Photovoltaics; Solar thermal; Photovoltaic/ thermal; BIPVT Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X08002120

6 - Semi-transparent PV: Thermal performance, power generation, daylight modelling and energy saving potential in a residential application P.W. Wonga, Y. Shimodab, , , M. Nonakaa, M. Inouea and M. Mizunob a Graduate School of Engineering, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada Oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan b Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada Oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Received 16 August 2006; accepted 9 June 2007. Available online 7 August 2007. Abstract In this research, semi-transparent PV is proposed as top light material for residential application. Using the results of field measurements, essential parameters pertaining to the power generation, thermal and optical characteristics of semi-transparent PV panels are understood. Calculation models presenting the above characteristics are developed and validated. The validated models are incorporated into Energy Plus to carry out overall energy consumption analyses in five climate regions in Japan to assess the energy saving potential of the semi-transparent PV panels. With appropriate optimization measures, the semitransparent PV top light with 50% radiation transmission rate contributes to a maximum of 5.3% reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption compared with a standard BiPV roof. The effect of daylighting in lighting energy

saving is subtle as most of the residential lighting demand occur during night-time. In the aspect of total energy consumption, net energy savings in the range of 3.08.7% are achieved for the 50% radiation transmission semi-transparent PV top light case relative to the base case of BiPV roof, where reduction in heating and cooling energy demand contributes most to the total energy saving. Keywords: Semi-transparent PV ; Heat transfer; Energy consumption Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148107002200

7 - Monitoring results of two examples of building integrated PV (BIPV) systems in the UK S. A. Omer , , R. Wilson and S. B. Riffat School of the Built Environment, the University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK Received 8 September 2002; accepted 6 November 2002. ; Available online 28 January 2003. Abstract This paper presents monitoring results of two examples of building integrated PV system investigated at the School of the Built Environment, University of Nottingham in the UK. One of the systems is installed on an educational building, and consists of a thin film PV faade appropriate for commercial or office suites. The other system is installed on a detached house, and uses crystalline PV roof slates, appropriate for domestic buildings. As the two buildings are significantly different in size, construction and occupancy, the design and selection of the PV system for each was also different. The monitoring investigation has assisted identification of shortfalls in performance and possible explanations have been suggested. The results presented in this paper provide information on the design process, and highlight similarities and differences in the design, installation, performance and economics of the two systems. Author Keywords: PV building integration; Roof-slates; Vertical faade; Roof integration Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148102002574

8 - Zero Energy Building A review of definitions and calculation methodologies

A.J. Marszala, , , P. Heiselberga, J.S. Bourrelleb, E. Musallc, K. Vossc, I. Sartorid andA. Napolit anoe a Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark b Department of Architectural Design, History and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Alfred Getz vei 3, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway c Department of Architecture, Building Physics and Technical Services, Bergische Universitt Wuppertal, Haspeler Strae 27, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany d SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, 124 Blindern, N-314 Oslo, Norway e EURAC Research, Institute for Renewable Energy, Viale Druso n1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy Received 19 October 2010; accepted 14 December 2010. Available online 24 December 2010. Abstract The concept of Zero Energy Building (ZEB) has gained wide international attention during last few years and is now seen as the future target for the design of buildings. However, before being fully implemented in the national building codes and international standards, the ZEB concept requires clear and consistent definition and a commonly agreed energy calculation methodology. The most important issues that should be given special attention before developing a new ZEB definition are: (1) the metric of the balance, (2) the balancing period, (3) the type of energy use included in the balance, (4) the type of energy balance, (5) the accepted renewable energy supply options, (6) the connection to the energy infrastructure and (7) the requirements for the energy efficiency, the indoor climate and in case of gird connected ZEB for the buildinggrid interaction. This paper focuses on the review of the most of the existing ZEB definitions and the various approaches towards possible ZEB calculation methodologies. It presents and discusses possible answers to the abovementioned issues in order to facilitate the development of a consistent ZEB definition and a robust energy calculation methodology. Keywords: Zero Energy Building; Zero Emission Building; Net Zero Energy Building; ZEB definition; Energy calculation methodologies Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778810004639#hit2

9 - Energy and cost studies of semi-transparent photovoltaic skylight Danny H.W. Li , a, , Tony N.T. Lama and K.L. Cheunga

Building Energy Research Group, Department of Building and Construction, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China Received 30 August 2008; accepted 6 April 2009. Available online 5 May 2009. Abstract Sustainability is the trend of the modern building designs, in which solar energy conversion systems and daylighting schemes are widely considered as the important building energy strategies to reduce the peak cooling and electrical demands, generate clean energy and save the building electricity expenditures. A semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) is a renewable energy product producing electricity via solar cells and allowing natural light entering into the interior spaces for daylighting designs. The PV modules are effective in reducing the cooling demand, especially for the skylight atrium that often receives large solar heat gains. This paper studies the thermal and visual properties, energy performance, environmental and financial issues of such semi-transparent PV skylights. Field measurements including solar irradiance, daylight illuminance and electricity generated were carried out. Case studies based on a circulating atrium were conducted to evaluate the energy use, cooling requirements and monetary implications when the PV skylights together with the daylight-linked lighting controls were applied. The results indicated that such an integrated system could save the overall electricity expenditures and benefit to the environmental and financial aspects. Keywords: Semi-transparent photovoltaic; Energy consumption; Solar irradiance; Daylight illuminance; Skylight Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890409001320#hit2

10 - Zero Energy Buildings: A Critical Look at the Definition Paul Torcellini, Shanti Pless, and Michael Deru, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Drury Crawley, U.S. Department of Energy ABSTRACT A net zero-energy building (ZEB) is a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced energy needs through efficiency gains such that the balance of energy needs can be supplied with renewable technologies. Despite the excitement over the phrase zero energy, we lack a common definition, or even a common understanding, of what it means. In this paper, we use a sample of current generation low-energy buildings to explore the concept of zero energy: what it means, why a clear and measurable definition is needed, and how we have

progressed toward the ZEB goal. The way the zero energy goal is defined affects the choices designers make to achieve this goal and whether they can claim success. The ZEB definition can emphasize demand-side or supply strategies and whether fuel switching and conversion accounting are appropriate to meet a ZEB goal. Four well-documented definitionsnet-zero site energy, net-zero source energy, net-zero energy costs, and net-zero energy emissionsare studied; pluses and minuses of each are discussed. These definitions are applied to a set of low-energy buildings for which extensive energy data are available. This study shows the design impacts of the definition used for ZEB and the large difference between definitions. It also looks at sample utility rate structures and their impact on the zero energy scenarios. Link: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy06osti/39833.pdf

11 - Practical application of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system using transparent amorphous silicon thin-film PV module and Sung-Jin Leeb Jong-Ho Yoona, Jonghwa Songb, c, , a Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 305-719, Republic of Korea b R&D Institute, KOLON Engineering and Construction, Yongin, Gyeonggi 449815, Republic of Korea c MAT-Fraunhofer ISE Next Generation Solar Cell Research Institute (KFnSC), Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea Received 5 June 2009; revised 31 March 2010; accepted 27 December 2010. Communicated by: Associate Editor Harvey Bryan. Available online 23 February 2011. Abstract An analysis has been carried out on the first practical application in Korea of the design and installation of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules on the windows covering the front side of a building by using transparent thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. This analysis was performed through long-term monitoring of performance for 2 years. Electrical energy generation per unit power output was estimated through the 2 year monitoring of an actual BIPV system, which were 48.4 kWh/kWp/month and 580.5 kWh/kWp/year, respectively, while the measured energy generation data in this study were almost half of that reported from the existing data which were derived by general amorphous thin-film solar cell application. The reason is that the azimuth of the tested BIPV system in this study was inclined to 50 in the southwest and moreover, the self-shade caused by the projected building mass resulted in the further reduction of energy generation efficiency. From simulating influencing factors such as azimuth and shading, the

measured energy generation efficiency in the tested condition can be improved up to 47% by changing the building location in terms of azimuth and shading, thus allowing better solar radiation for the PV module. Thus, from the real application of the BIPV system, the installation of a PV module associated with azimuth and shading can be said to be the essentially influencing factors on PV performance, and both factors can be useful design parameters in order to optimize a PV system for an architectural BIPV application. Keywords: Thin-film solar cell; Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV); Power output; Practical building application; Azimuth; Shading Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X10004056

12 - Efficiency characteristic of building integrated photovoltaics as a shading device Seung-Ho Yoo , , a and Eun-Tack Lee , b a Department of Architectural Engineering, Daebul University, 72-1 Sanho-Ri, Samho-Myeon, Youngam-Gun, Chon-Nam, South Korea b Samsung Corp., SIECT, 25, Gongse-Ri, Giheung-Eup, Yongin-Si, Kyunggi-Do, South Korea Received 9 April 2001; revised 30 May 2001; accepted 21 August 2001 Available online 29 May 2002. Abstract A building-integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV) has been operated over 1 year in the Samsung Institute of Engineering & Construction Technology (SIECT) in Korea. The PV cells are mounted on the south facade and on the roof of the SIECT in the Giheung area. Special care was taken in the building design to have the PV modules shade the building in the summer, so as to reduce cooling loads, while at the same time allowing solar energy to enter the building during the heating season, and providing daylight. This paper gives a 1 year analysis of the system performance, evaluation of the system efficiency and the power output, taking into account the weather conditions. As a part of certain design compromises, that took into account, aesthetic, safety, and cost considerations, non-optimal tilt angles and occasional shading of the PV modules made the efficiency of PV system lower than the peak rating of the cells. The yearly average efficiency of the sunshade solar panel is 9.2% (average over 28.6C surface temperature), with a minimum of 3.6% (average over 27.9C surface temperature) in June and a maximum of 20.2% (average over 19.5C surface temperature) in December. Author Keywords: BIPV; Shading; Efficiency; Power generation

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132301000713

13 - Solar XXI building: Proof of concept or a concept to be proved?

Marta J.N. Oliveira Panao
a , a,

and Helder J.P. Gonalvesa

National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG), Estrada do Pao Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal Received 21 June 2010; accepted 4 March 2011. Available online 27 March 2011.

Abstract
Solar XXI building is a low energy office building where passive and active solar strategies have been applied to reduce the use of energy for heating, cooling and lighting, combining also an extensive photovoltaic faade for electricity production. Solar XXI opened in 2006 and is considered a high efficient building, close to a net zero energy building (NZEB), where the difference between the energy consumed and that produced is 1/10th of the energy consumed by a Portuguese standard new office building. Its design includes many energy efficiency concepts, such as a high insulated envelope, south sun exposure, windows external shading, photovoltaic panels heat recovery, ground-cooling system, daylighting, stack effect and cross ventilation. The solar gains of the windows and the effectiveness of shading devices were evaluated in order to correlate solar radiation, external and indoor air temperatures. It was also verified that amplitude-dampening of ground-cooled air ranged between 5 and 8 C, following the trend of the analytical solution for heat diffusion of a cylindrical air/soil heat-exchanger.

Highlights
Solar XXI building is a low energy office building. Passive strategies are applied to reduce building energy consumption. Ground-cooling leads to an amplitude-dampening of external air from 5 to 8 C For summer, the increase of 4 C in the external air leads to an extra 1 C in the 2 room. For winter, each 100 W/m of maximum solar gains causes an extra 1.2 C in the room Keywords: Passive office building; Direct gain; Ground-cooling system; Photovoltaic faade; Zero energy; Monitoring

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148111001169#sec3.5