scholarly journals Energy Retrofit in European Building Portfolios: A Review of Five Key Aspects

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora Greta Ruggeri ◽  
Laura Gabrielli ◽  
Massimiliano Scarpa
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Risk Valuation ◽  
Energy Modelling ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Joint Consideration ◽  
Key Aspects

The research about energy efficiency in buildings has exponentially increased during the last few years. Nevertheless, both research and practice still cannot rely on complete methodologies tailored for building portfolios as a whole, because the attention has always been drawn to individual premises. Yet, energy efficiency analyses need to go beyond the single building perspective and incorporate strategic district approaches to optimize the retrofit investment. For this purpose, several aspects should be considered simultaneously, and new methodologies should also be promoted. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss energy retrofit campaigns in building portfolios, drawing an exhaustive and updated review about the challenge of jumping from the single-building perspective to a stock-based analysis. This research discusses the publications available on the topic from five key aspects that are all essential steps in achieving a complete and reliable study of energy efficiency at a portfolio level. They are energy modelling and assessment, energy retrofit design, decision-making criteria assessment, optimal allocation of (financial) resources and risk valuation. This review, therefore, advocates for joint consideration of the problem as a basis on which to structure further disciplinary developments. Research gaps are highlighted, and new directions for future research are suggested.

scholarly journals Adapting Highly-Dynamic Compliant Movements to Changing Environments: A Benchmark Comparison of Reflex- vs. CPG-Based Control Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Schmidt ◽  
Benedikt Feldotto ◽  
Thomas Gumpert ◽  
Daniel Seidel ◽  
Alin Albu-Schäffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Central Pattern Generators ◽  
Search Space ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Comparison ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Pattern Generators ◽  
Low Dimensional ◽  
Key Aspects

To control highly-dynamic compliant motions such as running or hopping, vertebrates rely on reflexes and Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) as core strategies. However, decoding how much each strategy contributes to the control and how they are adjusted under different conditions is still a major challenge. To help solve this question, the present paper provides a comprehensive comparison of reflexes, CPGs and a commonly used combination of the two applied to a biomimetic robot. It leverages recent findings indicating that in mammals both control principles act within a low-dimensional control submanifold. This substantially reduces the search space of parameters and enables the quantifiable comparison of the different control strategies. The chosen metrics are motion stability and energy efficiency, both key aspects for the evolution of the central nervous system. We find that neither for stability nor energy efficiency it is favorable to apply the state-of-the-art approach of a continuously feedback-adapted CPG. In both aspects, a pure reflex is more effective, but the pure CPG allows easy signal alteration when needed. Additionally, the hardware experiments clearly show that the shape of a control signal has a strong influence on energy efficiency, while previous research usually only focused on frequency alignment. Both findings suggest that currently used methods to combine the advantages of reflexes and CPGs can be improved. In future research, possible combinations of the control strategies should be reconsidered, specifically including the modulation of the control signal's shape. For this endeavor, the presented setup provides a valuable benchmark framework to enable the quantitative comparison of different bioinspired control principles.

scholarly journals Organizational Commitment and Lean Sustainability: Literature Review and Directions for Future Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Benkarim ◽  
Daniel Imbeau
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Affective Commitment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Employee Commitment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Narrative Literature Review ◽  
Key Aspects

The vast majority of works published on Lean focus on the evaluation of tools and/or the strategies needed for its implementation. Although many authors highlight the degree of employee commitment as one of the key aspects of Lean, what has gone largely unnoticed in the literature, is that few studies have examined in-depth the concept of organizational commitment in connection with Lean. With this narrative literature review article, our main objective is (1) to identify and analyze an extensive body of literature that addresses the Lean Manufacturing approach and how it relates to employee commitment, emphasizing affective commitment as the main type of organizational commitment positively associated with Lean, and (2) to highlight the management practices required to encourage this kind of commitment and promote the success and sustainability of Lean. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview that can help researchers and practitioners interested in Lean better understand the importance of employee commitment in this type of approach, and as well, to identify related research questions.

scholarly journals A Review on Thermal Energy Modelling for Optimal Microgrids Management

Thermo ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76
Author(s):  
Mengxuan Yan ◽  
Dongxiao Wang ◽  
Chun Sing Lai ◽  
Loi Lei Lai
Keyword(s):  
Energy Management ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Modelling ◽  
Microgrid Energy Management ◽  
Combined Cooling

Microgrids have become increasingly popular in recent years due to technological improvements, growing recognition of their benefits, and diminishing costs. By clustering distributed energy resources, microgrids can effectively integrate renewable energy resources in distribution networks and satisfy end-user demands, thus playing a critical role in transforming the existing power grid to a future smart grid. There are many existing research and review works on microgrids. However, the thermal energy modelling in optimal microgrid management is seldom discussed in the current literature. To address this research gap, this paper presents a detailed review on the thermal energy modelling application on the optimal energy management for microgrids. This review firstly presents microgrid characteristics. Afterwards, the existing thermal energy modeling utilized in microgrids will be discussed, including the application of a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) and thermal comfort model to form virtual energy storage systems. Current trial programs of thermal energy modelling for microgrid energy management are analyzed and some challenges and future research directions are discussed at the end. This paper serves as a comprehensive review to the most up-to-date thermal energy modelling applications on microgrid energy management.

scholarly journals A State of the Art of the Overall Energy Efficiency of Wood Buildings—An Overview and Future Possibilities

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1848
Author(s):  
Matheus Roberto Cabral ◽  
Pierre Blanchet
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hybrid Buildings ◽  
Wood Frame ◽  
Mass Timber

The main goal of this study was to review current studies on the state of the art of wood constructions with a particular focus on energy efficiency, which could serve as a valuable source of information for both industry and scholars. This review begins with an overview of the role of materials in wood buildings to improve energy performance, covering structural and insulation materials that have already been successfully used in the market for general applications over the years. Subsequently, studies of different wood building systems (i.e., wood-frame, post-and-beam, mass timber and hybrid constructions) and energy efficiency are discussed. This is followed by a brief introduction to strategies to increase the energy efficiency of constructions. Finally, remarks and future research opportunities for wood buildings are highlighted. Some general recommendations for developing more energy-efficient wood buildings are identified in the literature and discussed. There is a lack of emerging construction concepts for wood-frame and post-and-beam buildings and a lack of design codes and specifications for mass timber and hybrid buildings. From the perspective of the potential environmental benefits of these systems as a whole, and their effects on energy efficiency and embodied energy in constructions, there are barriers that need to be considered in the future.

scholarly journals Photovoltaic systems – types of installations, materials, monitoring and modeling - review

2020 ◽  
pp. 40-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Anduła ◽  
Dariusz Heim
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Photovoltaic Systems ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Thermal Systems ◽  
Photovoltaic Panels ◽  
Common Solution

Photovoltaic systems have become a common solution for, both small residential buildings as well as large service buildings. When buildings are being designed, it is important to focus on the aspect of the object’s energy efficiency as lowering the energy consumption of a given facility is crucial. The article discusses the use of photovoltaic panels such as so-called BAPV (Building Applied Photovoltaics) and BIPV (Building Installed Photovoltaics) installations as well as photovoltaic thermal systems (PV/T), which generate both electricity and heat. The role of PV installation in so-called zero energy buildings and proposals for future research and solutions are also discussed.

A FBS-based energy modelling method for energy efficiency-oriented design

2018 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Li ◽  
Suiran Yu ◽  
Jing Tao ◽  
Lin Li
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Modelling Method ◽  
Energy Modelling

scholarly journals How Social Are Social Media? A Review of Online Social Behaviour and Connectedness

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracii Ryan ◽  
Kelly A. Allen ◽  
DeLeon L. Gray ◽  
Dennis M. McInerney
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Key Aspects

The use of social media is rapidly increasing, and one of the major discussions of the 21st century revolves around how the use of these applications will impact on the social relationships of users. To contribute to this discussion, we present a brief narrative review highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of social media use on three key aspects of social connectedness: social capital, sense of community, and loneliness. The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experience weakening friendships, online ostracism, and heightened loneliness. Therefore, we argue that the use of social media has contradictory effects on social connectedness. Moreover, the direction of these outcomes is contingent upon who is using the site and how they are using it. Based on these arguments, possible directions for future research are discussed. It is recommended that discourse be continued relating to the association between online social behaviour and connectedness, as this will enable researchers to establish whether the positive outcomes of social media use outweigh the negative.

Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Risks in the Face of Rapidly Advancing Technologies

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-56
Author(s):  
Vicente González-Prida Díaz ◽  
Jesus Pedro Zamora Bonilla ◽  
Pablo Viveros Gunckel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Perception ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk And Uncertainty ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
The Face ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Reduction Of Uncertainty

This chapter aims to consider the effects of the new concept Industry 4.0 on decision making, particularly on the reduction of uncertainty and the risk associated with any choice between alternatives. For this purpose, this chapter begins by dealing with the concepts of risk and uncertainty and their epistemological evolution. After observing certain trends and recent studies in this regard, the authors address a more philosophical perception of risk, mainly on aspects related to engineering and social perception. The concept of human reliability will also be reviewed and how it can be improved with the application of emerging technologies, considering some methodological proposals to improve the decision making. After that, some of the possible future research directions will be briefly discussed. Finally, the chapter concludes by highlighting key aspects of the chapter as a context for other chapters in the book.

Communicating Geoinformation Effectively With Virtual 3d City Models

2010 ◽  
pp. 120-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Jobst ◽  
Jürgen Döllner ◽  
Olaf Lubanski
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Knowledge ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Learning Mechanisms ◽  
3D City Models ◽  
3D Environments ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Knowledge Structuring ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
City Models

Planning situations are commonly managed by intensive discussions between all stakeholders. Virtual 3D city models enhance these communication procedures with additional visualization possibilities (in opposite to physical models), which support spatial knowledge structuring and human learning mechanisms. This chapter discusses key aspects of virtual 3D city creation, main components of virtual environments and the framework for an efficient communication. It also explores future research for the creation of virtual 3D environments.

Looking Backward, Looking Forward

2019 ◽  
pp. 205-225
Author(s):  
Matt Guardino
Keyword(s):  
Political Development ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
American Political Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Economic Power ◽  
Policy Regime ◽  
American Capitalism ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Political Economic

This chapter summarizes the book’s conclusions and suggests directions for future research. It also explores the book’s broader implications for democracy and the dynamics of political-economic power. The chapter stresses the need for interdisciplinary analyses that employ multiple methods and sources of evidence to better understand the role of media and public opinion in American political development. It also discusses how news coverage may contribute to the durability of key aspects of the broader neoliberal policy regime. It ends by situating the book’s analyses within scholarship on inequalities in political and economic power, arguing that political scientists should recognize the news media’s central institutional role at the intersection of American politics and American capitalism.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document