ABSTRACT Buildings represent 40% of the world’s energy demand and CO2 emissions. In Argentina, buildings are responsible for 40% of the total annual energy consumption. The problem lies in an imbalance between the need to provide a high quality of life and comfort in office spaces, and the high energy cost required to meet that goal. Both a high comfort level and energy savings represent two objectives to be achieved. In this sense, this paper proposes a new methodology that combines onsite measurement with mathematical simulation tools. Innovative techniques and models are incorporated to make the tool, applying thermal-energy multi-objective optimization, which operates dynamically during working hours. The results show significant savings in energy consumption regarding cooling office spaces in the summer, from 57.5% to 83.3%, together with an increase in the thermal comfort quality, with improvements between 4.7% and 29.4%.

RESUMEN El 40% de la demanda mundial de energía y de emisiones de CO2 proviene de las edificaciones. En Argentina, los edificios son también responsables del 40% del consumo total anual de energía. El problema radica en el desequilibrio provocado entre la necesidad de proveer de una elevada calidad de vida y confort a los espacios de oficina y el costo de energía requerido para acudir a tal propósito. Tanto un alto nivel de confort como el ahorro energético representan dos objetivos a alcanzar. En ese sentido, este artículo propone una nueva metodología que combina la medición in situ con herramientas de simulación matemática. Se incorporan técnicas y modelos innovadores para la elaboración de la herramienta aplicando una optimización multiobjetivo termo-energética, que opera dinámicamente durante el horario laboral. Los resultados muestran un importante ahorro en el consumo energético para refrigeración de espacios de oficinas en verano (del 57,5% al 83,3%), junto con un aumento en la calidad del confort térmico de entre el 4,7% y el 29,4%.

ABSTRACT: The building sector is responsible for 40% of the energy demand internationally, and for 37% in Argentina. Heating and cooling are the most representative item. Rational energy usage measures are being introduced in countries throughout the world, as well as strategies that pursue energy transition. The passing of the IRAM 11900 standard in Argentina promotes energy efficiency (EE) in the residential building sector, and it is expected to be inclusive and lead to the transition by 2050. The aim of this work is to perform the thermo-energy evaluation of an existing social dwelling prototype in “Barrio Papa Francisco” (Pope Francisco Neighborhood), as well as in its two improved variations: “retrofit” and “ex ante”. For this, information is collected about the dimensions, construction systems, building envelope components and equipment to meet demands for heating, cooling, domestic hot water and lighting. As a relevant result, it is reported that the energy supply index (IPE, in Spanish) of the existing prototype reaches a value of 132 kWhPrim./m2.year. In addition, the retrofit and ex ante variations lead to considerable economic savings in the initial investment. This is why the importance of implementing software analysis at the design stage is considered as important in order to quantify energy resources and emissions savings in a planned energy transition.

RESUMEN: El sector edilicio es responsable del 40% de la demanda energética a nivel internacional y el 37% en Argentina. La climatización constituye el ítem más representativo. Los países instituyen medidas para el uso racional de la energía y persiguen estrategias a fin de provocar la transición energética. La aprobación del estándar IRAM 11900 en Argentina promueve la Eficiencia Energética (EE) en el sector edilicio residencial que se pretende, sea inclusivo y conduzca a la transición al 2050. El objetivo del trabajo es la evaluación termo-energética de un prototipo existente de vivienda de interés social del Barrio Papa Francisco y sus variantes mejoradas “retrofit” y “ex ante”, desde el enfoque de la norma. Para ello se relevan dimensiones, sistemas constructivos, componentes de la envolvente y equipamiento para cubrir demandas de calefacción, refrigeración, agua caliente sanitaria e iluminación. Como resultado relevante, el índice de prestaciones energéticas (IPE) del prototipo existente alcanza un valor de 132 kWhPrim./m2.año. Además, las variantes mejoradas “retrofit” y “ex ante” conducen a ahorros económicos considerables en la inversión inicial. De aquí que se valora la importancia de implementar software de análisis en la etapa de proyecto para cuantificar los recursos energéticos y el ahorro de emisiones en una transición energética planificada.

ABSTRACT: Buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy demand and CO2 emissions. In Argentina, buildings represent more than 40% of total annual energy consumption. Energy-saving strategies can cause thermal discomfort for building inhabitants. The aim of this research is to optimize daily set point temperatures based on occupancy profiles and changes in outdoor weather to find a balance between energy efficiency and thermal comfort in a public office building in San Juan, Argentina. The model takes into account the thermal adaptation capacity of the inhabitants considering outdoor temperature variation. The proposed method combines spot monitoring analysis, which introduces subjective occupancy data, with the Energy Plus building energy simulation tool. Optimization results show around 26% energy savings, while maintaining acceptable thermal comfort conditions.

RESUMEN: Las edificaciones son responsables del 40% de la demanda mundial de energía y de emisiones de CO2. En Argentina, los edificios representan más del 40% del consumo total anual de energía. Las estrategias de ahorro de energía pueden provocar disconformidad térmica en los habitantes de los edificios. El objetivo del trabajo expuesto es optimizar las temperaturas de “set point” diarias basadas en los perfiles de ocupación y la evolución del clima exterior para encontrar el equilibrio entre la eficiencia energética y el confort térmico de un edificio de oficinas público en San Juan, Argentina. El modelo empleado para ello tiene en cuenta la capacidad de adaptación térmica de los habitantes considerando la variación de la temperatura exterior. El método propuesto combina el análisis de monitoreo in situ, que introduce datos subjetivos de ocupación, con la herramienta de simulación energética para edificios Energy Plus. Los resultados de la optimización muestran alrededor de un 26% de ahorro de energía en los que se mantienen condiciones aceptables de confort térmico.

ABSTRACT: The residential building sector accounts for 44% of local electricity consumption and is the user responsible for this consumption, especially through the use of energy-intensive systems such as individual air-conditioning systems. This work is based on the hypothesis that their behaviour, in relation to the use of passive or active adaptation strategies to satisfy their condition of comfort, has an impact on building energy efficiency. The objective is to know the correlation between the User Efficiency Level (UEL index) and the Energy Consumption of the building. For this purpose, fieldwork is carried out in 14 residential buildings located in San Juan-Argentina. Based on surveys and objective data collection, the habits that the average user uses to satisfy his or her thermal comfort condition in warm periods are known, the UEL index is calculated and correlated with the energy consumption data. In this study there is a strong correlation (R=-0,779) between behavior, awareness and energy consumption.

RESUMEN: El sector edilicio residencial representa el 44% del consumo eléctrico local, siendo el usuario responsable de dicho consumo, sobre todo por el empleo de sistemas que consumen elevada cantidad de energía, como los sistemas de climatización individual. Este trabajo parte de la hipótesis de que su comportamiento, en relación al uso de estrategias de adaptación pasivas o activas para satisfacer su condición de confort, incide en el rendimiento energético edilicio. El objetivo es conocer la correlación entre el Nivel de Eficiencia del Usuario (índice NEU) y el Consumo Energético del edificio. Para ello, se realiza un trabajo de campo en 14 edificios residenciales en altura, ubicados en San Juan, Argentina. En base a encuestas y relevamiento de datos objetivos, se conocen los hábitos que el usuario promedio emplea para satisfacer su condición de confort térmico en período cálido, se calcula el índice NEU y se correlaciona con los datos de consumo energético. En este estudio se encuentra una fuerte correlación (R=-0,779) entre comportamiento, concientización y consumo de energía.

Resumo Neutralidade térmica é a condição em que uma pessoa não prefira nem mais calor nem mais frio no ambiente ao seu redor, fator condicionante para atingir o conforto térmico. Tendo em vista que Mato Grosso apresenta significativas variações climáticas, evidenciou-se a necessidade de estudos específicos, principalmente em instituições de ensino superior, visto que estas abrigam ocupantes por longos períodos e a aprendizagem está diretamente relacionada às condições de conforto dos estudantes. Este trabalho propôs determinar a temperatura de neutralidade em salas de aula de edificações do ensino superior, para as zonas bioclimáticas do Estado de Mato Grosso. A metodologia baseou-se na aplicação de questionários para verificação de variáveis pessoais e na medição de variáveis ambientais. A pesquisa foi realizada nos períodos seco e chuvoso, totalizando 64 medições com 1.151 questionários. Através de análise de regressão linear entre a temperatura operativa e o voto médio de sensação térmica emitido pelos ocupantes, ajustaram-se equações para a determinação da temperatura de neutralidade por zona bioclimática para as estações de chuva e seca. A temperatura de neutralidade média encontrada para o Estado de Mato Grosso foi de 26,6 ºC.

Abstract Thermal neutrality is a condition where a person does wish their environment to be neither cooler nor warmer, and it is a conditioning factor to achieve thermal comfort. The fact that the state of Mato Grosso presents significant climate variations through its territory highlights the need for specific studies, particularly in higher education institutions, as their occupants spend extended periods of time in classrooms and learning capacity of students is directly related to their comfort conditions. This paper evaluates neutral temperatures in classrooms in four bioclimatic zones of Mato Grosso state. The methodology is based on questionnaires for the verification of personal variables, and the measurement of climatic variables. The field research was conducted during the dry and rain seasons, totalling 64 cycles of measurement and 1151 questionnaires. Through an ordinary least square regression analysis between the operating temperature and the thermal sensation voting, the equations to determine the neutral temperature were adapted for each bioclimatic area for the rain and dry seasons. The average neutral temperature found for the state of Mato Grosso was 26.6 ºC.

Ladrões internacionais indicam quais são as exigências sobre conforto térmico que devem ser alcançadas em espaços de escritório. Elas se baseiam em um modelo desenvolvido pelo Prof. Paul Ole Fanger, no Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, na Dinamarca. Hoje, quarenta anos de pesquisa mostram uma evolução desses indicadores. Este trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta para avaliar o conforto térmico em espaços de trabalho de edifícios de escritório. A metodologia baseia-se em medições e questionários realizados no local. Para o estudo de campo utiliza-se uma unidade móvel equipada com sensores e um questionário pelos quais se obtêm respostas dos usuários sobre a qualidade térmica do ambiente de trabalho. Levantam-se as condições térmicas de trinta edifícios de escritório na Alemanha com diferentes sistemas de climatização. A correlação entre os dados objetivos e subjetivos permite desenvolver uma fórmula que calcula o nível de insatisfação térmica em um ambiente determinado, em função de aspectos locais. Para os edifícios estudados, a temperatura de conforto é 23,3 ºC e o percentual mínimo de usuários insatisfeitos é de 7%, sendo 2,3 K (Kelvin) menor que o modelo de Fanger, o que é significativo no balanço energético dos edifícios localizados em um clima da Europa central.

International standards provide thermal comfort requirements that office building spaces must comply with. These are based on a model developed by Prof. Paul Ole Fanger of the Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Denmark. Nowadays, 40 years of research show an evolution in those indicators. This research study consists of the development of tools to evaluate the thermal comfort of working environments of office buildings. A methodology was devised on the basis of on-site measurements and a questionnaire to users. For the field survey, a mobile unit equipped with sensors was used, whereas the questionnaire was concerned with the thermal quality of the work environment. The thermal conditions of thirty office buildings located in Germany presenting different acclimatization systems have been investigated. The correlation between objective and subjective data allows developing a formula that shows the thermal discomfort level for a given environment as a function of local aspects. For the sample of buildings analysed, the resulting comfortable temperature was 23.3 ºC, and the minimum percentage of dissatisfied users was 7%, being 2.3 K (Kelvin) less than Fanger's model, and significant for the energy balance of buildings located in central European climate.