Title: Benchmarking of low 'exergy' buildings

Authors: Dietrich Schmidt

Addresses: Department Energy Systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, Gottschalkstrasse 28a, Kassel D-34127, Germany

Abstract: An optimisation of the exergy flows in buildings and the supply structures related to them, similar to other thermodynamic systems, can help in identifying the potential of increased efficiency in energy utilisation. The low exergy (LowEx) approach entails matching the quality levels of exergy supply and demand to streamline the utilisation of high-value energy resources. This approach is the key concept for the conducted work. Using a typical case, the advantages of the analyses and the difference between energy and exergy analyses are demonstrated. In conclusion, suggestions, based on an analysis of a real and existing building, are presented for a benchmarking system for so-called LowEx buildings.

Keywords: exergy analysis; energy efficiency; buildings; heating systems; low temperature heating; low temperature cooling; built environment; low exergy; energy analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.050257

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.4, pp.473 - 480

Published online: 13 Nov 2012 *

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