Energy Efficient Buildings:

Issues, Research Opportunities

Leon Glicksman
Building Technology Program

January 27, 2005

 US Energy Consumption
U.S. Energy Use
28%
39% Transportation

Buildings

Industrial
33%
 U.S. Buildings
•38 % of total energy ( in UK 50 % )
•67 % of electricity
•90% of time spent indoors
•Major health problems: indoor climate
1Quad = 10 15 BTU
Average Lifetime of Buildings
United States Commercial Buildings
Average Age of US Cars and Trucks

US Dept of Transportation
 New Building Construction in
Developing Countries
China
• ~ 10 M new residence units/year!
• Commercial building rate ~ ∑ Western
countries
 “Exudes Green”
vs.
Green Performance
Heritage 2000 Artist’s Rendering
 Energy Efficient
Copenhagen: Cooled only by
Natural Ventilation
Energy Efficient
Not very energy efficient
 Building Technology Program
• Joint Architecture/ ME / Civil
• 5 Faculty
• ~ 20 graduate students
 Energy Research
Building Technology Group
• Natural ventilation in commercial buildings
– Air flow Prediction: scale models, numerical methods
– Multiple Stable States
• Integrated design:
– design tools
– Developing countries
• Controls
– Optimization
– Remote monitoring
• Advanced envelopes: double skin facades
• Thermal insulation: fundamental mechanisms
• Daylighting
• Lifecycle evaluation: real options for flexible designs
Double Skin Building Facades
• Goals include
– Energy conservation &
ecological benefits
– High level of thermal and
visual comfort
– Architectural transparency
– Noise Reduction
– Security
– Natural Ventilation
 The German Towers

Commerzbank, Frankfurt RWE Ag, Essen

Natural Ventilated Building, Aldwyck
Housing-Luton England
Airflow pattern compared between
simulation and visualization

Visualized air flow direction

 Luton Air Model-MIT
10th Scale Model of Luton Building
Airflow Measurements compare to building
Airflow Visualization techniques
 MIT Design Advisor
• Simple Tool
• Use in the Conceptual Design Stage
• Compare Scenarios
• Real Time Calculations
• Real Time Optimization
Mechanical Pure natural Hybrid ventilation
Mechanical Pure natural Hybrid ventilation