DIRECTION - new low-energy buildings
To explain the Smart Cities Information System (SCIS) in one sentence is to say that it is a database containing valuable data and expertise from smart cities demonstration projects and sites aiming to promote replication. An essential part of this process for SCIS are the technical visits to the projects so we can really understand what is behind the numbers and figures we manage for the database. Reaching out to stakeholders is beneficial because it enables us to see first-hand the objectives of every initiative.
I did my first technical visit in February this year and I can say it really made a difference. From AIT’s office in Vienna I made the daytrip to Munich for the final event of the DIRECTION project, co-funded by the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration. The seminar gathered researchers, architects, industry experts and small businesses to present the work carried out in designing a framework for constructing new low-energy buildings.
the Munich’s NuOffice and Valladolid’s CARTIF III.
In a nutshell, the DIRECTION project involved the complete development of concept and construction of two high energy efficient real buildings, the Munich’s NuOffice and Valladolid’s CARTIF III. These projects aimed at integrating and deploying innovative and cost-effective technologies to achieve under 60kWh/m2/year in energy consumption for new buildings. To achieve this performance, they implemented new architectural solutions for daylighting and natural ventilation as well as new control algorithms for cost efficient and smarter building energy management system (BEMS). In the generation aspects, the project carried out an optimisation on the integration of heat pumps coupled with different thermal sources, heating/cooling distribution and terminal units, in order to define high efficiency equipment.
key findings and recommendations from DIRECTION in 19 best practices
The team summed up the key findings and recommendations from DIRECTION in 19 best practices to encourage others to take advantage of the DIRECTION experience. The Best Practice Book is available online and I am sure it will be of great help to the scientific and business community involved in energy efficient projects. What’s more – it indicates what the relevancy is for the different stakeholders and features advice on what to do and what not to do, all invaluable information.
The best part was, of course, the on-site visit. I got to see the data in action. They took us through the special features of the building like thickness, materials, type of windows, etc. which made it not only highly efficient but also aesthetically attractive. Once constructed, it was rented to different businesses such as car and retail shops, restaurants and medical offices. The business model followed by this project is very interesting: firstly, the building company designs and construct a high efficient building. Secondly, it looks for tenants, who will rent the different offices. Then the consortium of companies involved in the project signs a contract with the tenants to manage the facility and to support the tenants on low energy consumption.
Tool for KPI visualization within the building
The inside of the building was equally impressive. What grabbed my attention was the tool for KPI visualization within the building. This tool shows in real time the performance of the building in a visual way, providing an insight to the real monitoring values of the building in order to be a valid framework to disseminate the benefits of energy efficiency in buildings. Many different stakeholders have visited this building, from scholars to scientists, and I am sure that, thanks to this tool, all of them have understood that this building consumes less than 60kWh/m2/year.
I was accompanied by the experts involved in the project which was very inspiring as I since it gave me the opportunity to discuss with them the innovative HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Cooling) concepts realized at NUOFFICE. The flow of information and the visit were extraordinary motivating due to the share of experience with other professionals in the energy efficiency sector. Needless to say, I am looking forward to my next visit!
About the author
M. Sc. Dipl.-Ing. Antonio Garrido Marijuán works as a Junior Scientist at the Energy Department of the AIT, and for the last eight months he has been supporting the development of the Smart Cities Information System. He graduated as Dipl.-Ing. in Chemical Engineering at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain) and holds a M. SC on Industrial Technologies. Previously to AIT, he worked in the field of energy efficiency in buildings at the Spanish Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), where he represented CIEMAT for 4 years on the EERA-Joint Programme on Smart Cities.