Architectural space layout has proven to be influential on building energy performance. However, the relationship between different space layouts and their consequent energy demands has not yet been systematically studied. This study thoroughly investigates such a relationship. In order to do so, a computational method was developed, which includes a method to generate space layouts featuring energy-related variables and an assessment method for energy demand. Additionally, a design of experiments was performed, and its results were used to analyse the relationship between space layouts and energy demands. In order to identify their relationship, four types of design indicators of space layout were proposed, both for the overall layout and for each function. Finally, several optimisations were performed to minimise heating, cooling and lighting demands. The optimisation results showed that the maximum reduction between different layouts was up to 54% for lighting demand, 51% for heating demand and 38% for cooling demand. The relationship analysis shows that when comparing the four types of design indicators, the façade area-to-floor area ratio showed a stronger correlation with energy demands than the façade area ratio, floor area ratio and height-to-depth ratio. Overall, this study shows that designing a space layout helps to reduce energy demands for heating, cooling and lighting, and also provides a reference for other researchers and designers to optimise space layout with improved energy performance. @en

This paper describes a step-by-step approach for generating various energy concepts for neighbourhoods, based on local renewable resources. The approach is developed within the European research project ‘Smart Urban Isle’ (SUI). While much literature is focussed on comparison or optimization of predefined configurations, the SUI approach adds to the existing knowledge by introducing a systematic step-by-step approach that supports the first step of the development phase, i.e., the generation of various - potentially innovative - energy system configurations for neighbourhoods, which in the following phase can be optimized using optimization methods. First, the five steps of the approach are introduced, and secondly, these are applied to an existing residential neighbourhood in the Netherlands. The resulting preferred energy concept for the case study consists of a local, ultra-low temperature heat grid, heated by decentralised heat production from PV-thermal (PVT) collectors on individual roofs and connected to a collective seasonal underground storage (ATES). This paper demonstrates the usefulness of the approach for generating various alternative innovative energy concepts for neighbourhoods, based on the local demands and energy potentials, and also describes the resulting energy concept developed for the case study. This innovative energy concept can also be applied to similar residential neighbourhoods.

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Numerous studies have shown that architectural design affects energy performance significantly. However, the effect of space layouts on building energy performance has not been fully analysed. In this paper, we aim to study the effect of space layouts on energy performance. An office building was used as the reference, and 11 layout variants were proposed and compared for energy performance. Three climates (temperate, cold and tropical) were inspected, with three typical cities (Amsterdam, Harbin and Singapore). Dynamic simulation was conducted for the energy performance assessment integrating daylighting simulation with energy simulation. For each layout, two situations were simulated: one has no shading system, and the other one has an exterior screen for shading. Based on the simulation results, it is found that lighting demand is affected the most by the layout variance, and the resulting maximum difference (difference divided by the highest demand) happens in Harbin, being 46% without shading and 35% with shading. Regarding the sum of the final energy for heating, cooling and lighting, using a heat pump system, the maximum difference is 8% for the layouts both without and with shading system occurring in Amsterdam.

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As one of the most important design tasks of building design, space layout design affects the building energy performance (BEP). In order to investigate the effect, a literature review of relevant papers was performed. Ten relevant articles were found and reviewed in detail. First, a methodology for studying the effects of space layouts on BEP were proposed regarding design variables, energy indicators and BEP calculation methods, and the methodologies used in the 10 articles were reviewed. Then, the effects of space layouts on energy use and occupant comfort were analysed separately. The results show that the energy use for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation is highly affected by space layouts, as well as thermal and visual comfort. The effects of space layouts on energy use are higher than on occupant comfort. By changing space layouts, the resulting reductions in the annual final energy for heating and cooling demands were up to 14% and 57%, respectively, in an office building in Sweden. The resulting reductions in the lighting demand of peak summer and winter were up to 67% and 43%, respectively, for the case of an office building in the UK, and the resulting reduction in the air volume supplied by natural ventilation was 65%. The influence of other design parameters, i.e., occupancy and window to wall ratio, on the effects of space layouts on BEP was also identified.@en

SHIFFT is an Interreg 2 Seas project, running from 2019-2022, promoting cross-border cooperation between 4 European countries: The Netherlands, France, Belgium and The United Kingdom. It has been approved under the priority ‘Low Carbon Technologies’.@en

Due to the critical need for reducing carbon emissions, the demand for energy-efficient building design is urgent. Studies have shown that space layouts affect energy performance considerably. Energy performance optimisation is able to improve energy performance significantly. However, in order to apply energy performance optimisation to space layouts (EPO), abundant layout alternatives are needed. With the development of computational methods, automatic generation of space layouts (GSL) helps to generate abundant layouts quickly. Therefore, combining GSL with EPO is expected to be greatly helpful for energy-efficient design. This paper investigates 10 relevant studies combining GSL and EPO and analyses their gaps. Furtherly, we extend the analysis to the research on GSL and EPO. 7 GSL methods are categorised and evaluated based on 66 studies, and the requirements for the combination with optimisation are inspected. Regarding EPO, the requirements for energy performance assessment and optimisation are analysed.@en

Space layout design is one of the most important phases in architectural design, and current studies have shown that it can affect building energy performance. However, its influence has not been quantified. This paper aims at investigating the impact of space layouts on building energy performance. We use the floor plan of an office building in the Netherlands as reference, and propose eleven space layouts based on the reference. Calculations are performed with the tools Honeybee and Ladybug in Grasshopper, which are developed based on Daysim and EnergyPlus, to simulate lighting, cooling and heating demand of these layouts. In addition, we couple daylight with thermal simulation, by importing the artificial lighting schedule calculated in Daysim to EnergyPlus. The result shows that the heating demand of the worst layout is 12% higher than the best layout, the cooling demand of the worst layout is 10% higher than the best layout, and the lighting demand of the worst layout is 65% higher than the best layout. The total final energy use of the worst layout is 19% higher than the best layout.@en

The traditional way of supplying energy to the built environment is no longer suitable: New buildings with high energy performance and decentralised renewable energy generation, together with the desire to become fossil-free, involve the need for new, more flexible and more integrated energy systems. The district of Buiksloterham was a test case to develop feasible and potentially desirable energy supply scenarios for the built environment at district level. It is not possible to develop Buiksloterham, and similar areas with high density, into an energy neutral area within the current legal framework (without wind energy it is not possible). About 1/3 of the energy use in buildings (building-related and user-related) can be supplied by renewable energy. In Buiksloterham a low temperature supply of heat is essential for a maximised use of renewable input. A fourth, low temperature, energy concept, consisting of local heat generation from solar and waste, thermal storage, and heat pumps, seems the best integrated energy system. The non-technical lesson learned is that new energy-efficient energy systems require very good, early planning, appointments, and cost and support of existing energy suppliers. Extracting a CO₂ neutral society by 2050 also depends on implementation aspects i.e. not only CO₂ and costs but also circularity parameters such as the use of resources for equipment, water, biodiversity, health, adaptability and resilience must be considered.@en

The IEA Annex 64 focusing on low-ex communities aims at the improvement of energy conversion chains on a community scale, using exergy analysis as the primary evaluation mode. Within this Annex the participants discuss important aspects and available methods for energy and exergy assessment as well as the added value of aiming for low exergy (LowEx) communities. The reason to exploit the exergy approach is that it provides critical insight into how the maximum potential of energy resources can be used, resulting in a reduced need for high quality energy sources. This insight cannot be obtained with energy analysis. However, other aspects play a role when designing an optimal energy system, such as costs or CO2 emissions. There can be reasons that justify exergy destruction. To address these issues the working definition for the annex is that “a LowEx community is a community for which the energy system is designed in such a way that exergy destruction is minimized, or that all exergy destruction is justified by other reasons (e.g. economic / social, other sustainability reasons)”. This paper gives more background on the definition and presents a general overview of exergy analysis of energy systems in the built environment. Different approaches and opinions are discussed, including how these affect the results. The aim is to create a common ground for consideration low exergy systems at the community scale by setting clear precedents for defining evaluation methods, system boundaries, and input classification.@en

In onze traditioneel lineaire economie worden materialen gewonnen, verwerkt in producten en uiteindelijk gestort op stortplaatsen of verbrand in verbrandingsovens. Om de beschikking te kunnen blijven houden over materialen is een paradigmaverschuiving richting circulaire modellen onvermijdelijk. De bouwsector is voor een groot deel verantwoordelijk voor het totale materiaalgebruik. Ter illustratie: op Europees niveau wordt gemiddeld 37,5% van al het gebruikte hout toegepast in de bouw, 21% van al het staal, 65,5% van het glas en 75% van het beton [1]. Recycling is redelijk ingeburgerd in de bouw, maar vaak gaat dat gepaard met een aanzienlijk kwaliteitsverlies. Kennis, vaardigheden en technieken om hoogwaardige circulaire stromen te bewerkstelligen staan nog in de kinderschoenen.@en

Er is een massale, wereldwijde migratie van bevolking naar (groot)stedelijke gebieden. Volgens de Wereld gezondheidsorganisatie (WHO) was in 1960 nog slechts 34% van de wereldbevolking gehuisvest in steden terwijl dat naar verwachting in 2030 reeds 70% zal zijn [1]. Daarbij is de totale bevolking in deze periode toegenomen van 3 miljard naar bijna 9 miljard [2]. Dit betekent een enorme concentratie van mensen, sociale interacties, van creativiteit en dus van mogelijkheden. Aan de andere kant betekent dit evenzo: een concentratie van lucht- en watervervuiling, van logistieke problemen voor energie, voedsel en afval; kortom ook een groot aantal uitdagingen.@en

The law of conservation of energy, stating that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, is inadequate to measure the performance of energy systems in the built environment: Even though energy figures suggest differently, these systems generally present a very poor performance, as they achieve only a fraction what is theoretically possible. By looking at exergy a much more meaningful insight into the performance of energy systems is obtained, which can greatly support the development of energy systems with a reduced need for high quality energy.@en