Energy Efficient Buildings

A complete and authoritative discussion of the fundamentals of designing and engineering energy efficient buildings

In Energy Efficient Buildings: Fundamentals of Building Science and Thermal Systems, distinguished engineer and architect Dr. John Zhai delivers a comprehensive exploration of the design and engineering fundamentals of energy efficient buildings. The book introduces the fundamental knowledge, calculations, analyses, and principles used by designers of energy efficient buildings and addresses all essential elements of the discipline.

An essential guide for students studying civil, architectural, mechanical, and electrical engineering with a focus on energy, building systems, and building science, the book provides practical in-class materials, examples, and actual design practices, as well as end-of-chapter questions (with solutions) and sample group projects.

Readers will find:

• A thorough introduction to the cross-disciplinary approach to the design of energy efficient buildings
• Comprehensive explorations of all critical elements of energy efficient building design, including standards and codes, psychometrics, microclimate, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, HVAC systems, and more
• In-depth discussions of the foundational knowledge, calculations, analysis, and principles needed to design energy efficient buildings
• Practical in-class examples and end-of-chapter questions with solutions for students, and design guidance and sample group projects for use in course lectures and actual design practices.

Perfect for graduate and advanced undergraduate students studying building environmental systems, building systems in construction, and mechanical and electrical systems in construction, Energy Efficient Buildings: Fundamentals of Building Science and Thermal Systems will also earn a place in the libraries of practicing civil, architectural, and mechanical engineers.

1. Sustainable Building

1) Building Functions

2) Building Elements

3) Definition of Sustainable Building

4) Origin and Significance of Sustainable Building

5) Sustainable Principles

6) Three-Layer Design Approach

7) Three-Tier Design Approach

8) Two Case Studies

2. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis

1) Life Phases of a Building

2) Design Process of a Building

3) Integrated Design Process of a Sustainable Building

4) Basics of Cost and Economic Analysis

5) Life-Cycle-Cost Analysis

6) Life-Cycle-Cost Analysis Based Optimization

3. Codes and Standards

1) Impacts of Building Codes

2) Types of Design Regulations

3) Integrative Use of All

4. Air Properties and Psychrometric Chart

1) Air Composition

2) Moist Air and Its Properties

3) Construction of a Psychrometric Chart

5. Climate and Site Analysis

1) Climate Analysis

2) Heating and Cooling Design Climatic Data

3) Site Analysis

6. Indoor Thermal Comfort

1) Indoor Environment Quality

2) Indoor Thermal Comfort

3) Comfort Zone

4) Approaches to Improving Indoor Thermal Comfort

5) Other Thermal Comfort Factors

7. Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, and Infiltration

1) Indoor Air Quality

2) Ventilation

3) Air Purification

4) Infiltration

5) Blower Door Test

8. Heat Transfer in Building

1) Latent Heat Transfer

2) Sensible Heat Transfer

3) Practical Heat Transfer through Building Envelope

4) Ground Heat Transfer

9. Sun and Solar Radiation

1) Sun and Solar

2) Solar Angles

3) Sky Dome and Sun-Path Diagrams

4) Solar Shading

5) Solar Radiation on External Walls

6) Solar Radiation on Windows

10. Passive Building Systems

1) Introduction

2) Overview of Passive Cooling

3) Overview of Passive Heating

4) Prescreening Feasibility of Passive Cooling and Heating Techniques

5) Natural Ventilation

6) Night Cooling with Thermal Mass

7) Direct/Indirect Evaporative Cooling

8) Trombe Wall

9) Sunspace

10) Double Skin Façade

11) Phase Change Material

11. Building Load Calculation

1) Residential and Light Commercial Buildings

i. Heating load calculation

ii. Cooling load calculation

2) Commercial Buildings

12. Heating, Cooling and Ventilation Systems

1) Basics of Mechanical Systems

2) Heating and Cooling on Psychrometric Chart 

3) System Sizing

13. Building Energy Consumption

1) Hand Calculation

2) Computer Simulation

14. Building Energy Analysis and Optimization

1) Overview

2) Simulation Tools

3) Benchmark Model Development

4) Parametric Analysis

5) Energy Efficiency Measures

6) Initial Optimization

7) Sensitivity Analysis

8) Second Optimization and Recommendations

9) Conclusions

Index

Zhiqiang (John) Zhai, PhD, is Professor for Building Systems Engineering in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He obtained his first doctorate in Engineering at the Tsinghua University and his second doctorate in Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his research is focused on thermal and environmental systems, indoor and outdoor environmental quality, and sustainable and immune buildings.

A complete and authoritative discussion of the fundamentals of designing and engineering energy efficient buildings

In Energy Efficient Buildings: Fundamentals of Building Science and Thermal Systems, distinguished engineer and architect Dr. John Zhai delivers a comprehensive exploration of the design and engineering fundamentals of energy efficient buildings. The book introduces the fundamental knowledge, calculations, analyses, and principles used by designers of energy efficient buildings and addresses all essential elements of the discipline.

An essential guide for students studying civil, architectural, mechanical, and electrical engineering with a focus on energy, building systems, and building science, the book provides practical in-class materials, examples, and actual design practices, as well as end-of-chapter questions (with solutions) and sample group projects.

Readers will find:

• A thorough introduction to the cross-disciplinary approach to the design of energy efficient buildings
• Comprehensive explorations of all critical elements of energy efficient building design, including standards and codes, psychometrics, microclimate, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, HVAC systems, and more
• In-depth discussions of the foundational knowledge, calculations, analysis, and principles needed to design energy efficient buildings
• Practical in-class examples and end-of-chapter questions with solutions for students, and design guidance and sample group projects for use in course lectures and actual design practices.

Perfect for graduate and advanced undergraduate students studying building environmental systems, building systems in construction, and mechanical and electrical systems in construction, Energy Efficient Buildings: Fundamentals of Building Science and Thermal Systems will also earn a place in the libraries of practicing civil, architectural, and mechanical engineers.