Optimal Design and Retrofit of Energy Efficient Buildings, Communities, and Urban Centers presents current techniques and technologies for energy efficiency in buildings. Cases introduce and demonstrate applications in both the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing structures. The book begins with an introduction that includes energy consumption statistics, building energy efficiency codes, and standards and labels from around the world. It then highlights the need for integrated and comprehensive energy analysis approaches. Subsequent sections present an overview of advanced energy efficiency technologies for buildings, including dynamic insulation materials, phase change materials, LED lighting and daylight controls, Life Cycle Analysis, and more. This book provides researchers and professionals with a coherent set of tools and techniques for enhancing energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. The case studies presented help practitioners implement the techniques and technologies in their own projects. - Introduces a holistic analysis approach to energy efficiency for buildings using the concept of energy productivity - Provides coverage of individual buildings, communities and urban centers - Includes both the design of new buildings and retrofitting of existing structures to improve energy efficiency - Describes state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies - Presents several cases studies and examples that illustrate the analysis techniques and impact of energy efficiency technologies and controls

Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.

The book covers chapters ranging from introduction to recent technological challenges, case studies of energy-efficient buildings with policy and awareness issues, fundamentals and present status along with research updates and future aspects on topics focusing on energy-efficient construction, materials Provides comprehensive information on energy efficient buildings including policy and energy audit aspects with case studies Examines application of PCMs in passive heating and cooling in buildings; role of active TES and energy saving potential

The advent of connected, smart technologies for the built environment may promise a significant value that has to be reached to develop digital city models. At the international level, the role of digital twin is strictly related to massive amounts of data that need to be processed, which proposes several challenges in terms of digital technologies capability, computing, interoperability, simulation, calibration, and representation. In these terms, the development of 3D parametric models as digital twins to evaluate energy assessment of private and public buildings is considered one of the main challenges of the last years. The ability to gather, manage, and communicate contents related to energy saving in buildings for the development of smart cities must be considered a specificity in the age of connection to increase citizen awareness of these fields. The Handbook of Research on Developing Smart Cities Based on Digital Twins contains in-depth research focused on the description of methods, processes, and tools that can be adopted to achieve smart city goals. The book presents a valid medium for disseminating innovative data management methods related to smart city topics. While highlighting topics such as data visualization, a web-based ICT platform, and data-sharing methods, this book is ideally intended for researchers in the building industry, energy, and computer science fields; public administrators; building managers; and energy professionals along with practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the implementation of smart technologies for the built environment.