ENER 513

Energy Efficient Buildings

 My Qualifications

Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.)
in Design (Ph.D.), (UK)
Lancaster University,
United Kingdom.

Master of Mechanical
Design & Theory,
Northeastern University,
China.

Bachelor of Design,
University of Botswana,
Dr. Badziili Nthubu
Presenter Botswana.
 My Career Path

Academia
Awarded a prestigious UK
Commonwealth Scholarship
for Ph.D. Study at Lancaster
University (UK) in 2017. 5. Lecturer
BIUST
Industry 4. Post-Doc 2022
Research
Awarded a prestigious Associate
Chinese Scholarship
3. Teaching
Lancaster
for MSc. Study at North- Instructor
eastern University, (China) in
University, UK
2008. • BIUST 2019 to 2021
2. Mechanical • 2015 to 2017
Training &
Development
• Botswana Power
1. Design & Corporation,
Manufacture Morupule (A&B)
• Botswana Defence • 2011 to 2015
Force
• 2005 to 2008
 My Research Interests

Design tools &

frameworks Metaverse projects
✓ Design & visualization methods
✓ Design for VR
✓ Systemic design & tools
✓ Data design ✓ Design for AR
Design for
manufacture
✓ Design for manufacturing
✓ Design of Energy-efficient buildings
✓ Design for AM

Creativity, Innovation Health care

& Entrepreneurship ✓ Design for Health systems
✓ Design for Disruptive Innovation
✓ Design for Entrepreneurship management
✓ Design for Micro-ecosystems
 Course outline

Week Lectures Venue Date

1 • Course Layout 119/ 30/08/2024

• Lecture 1: Introduction to Building Science

2 • Lecture 2: Solar geometry & climate classification 06/09/2024

3 • Lecture 3: Energy efficient cooling concepts 13/09/2024

Description Percentage
(%) 4 • Lecture 4: Thermal comfort & adaptation in Buildings 20/09/2024
Tests 20 5 • Test 1 27/09/2024
Group Oral 10 6 • Lecture 5: Bioclimatic assessment of buildings 04/10/2024
Tests
Group 20 • Group Oral Test 1
Project
Final Exams 50 • Group Project Launch
Total 100 Semester break 11/10/2024
7 • Lecture 6: Green building ratings & components 18/10/2024

8 • Lecture 7: Building envelope 25/10/2024

• Group Oral Test 2

9 • Lecture 8: Ventilation, Cooling & Heating load 01/11/2024

10 • Test 2 08/11/2024
11 • Lecture 9: Energy Efficiency and Simulation 15/11/2024

12 • Group Project presentations 22/11/2024

Study week 29/11/2024
 ENER 513: Energy Efficient Buildings

What's on Lecture 1?
❖ Motivation
❖ Introduction to building science
❖ Group Oral Test Launch (Last slide)
 Motivation

Chart 1. Annual world energy consumption (i.e final energy) by

share. Data: IEA(2022)2.The Heat share refers to heat recovered
from chemical reactions etc and consumed.
Motivation
 Motivation

Who emits the most

Co2?

Global Co2
emissions in 2015
Motivation
Motivation
 Introduction to Building Science

Building Science is the

study of how buildings function under
various environmental conditions.

Building scientists study how heat is

generated or lost in a house and how
to make houses more comfortable and
healthy.
Introduction to Building Science
Introduction to Building Science
Introduction to Building Science
Introduction to Building Science
 Introduction to Building Science

Systems Approach
Making changes to a building bearing in
mind that all parts are interconnected and
possibly interacting in significant ways.

Key components
• Building assemblies (wood, insulation, concrete)
• Mechanical systems
• The air we breath
• People
 Introduction to Building Science

Systems performance
All components need to interact effectively
to achieve the following;

• A high level of comfort

• A healthy and safe home
• Durability and ease of maintenance
• Energy efficiency
 Introduction to Building Science

1. Heat movement in buildings

• Heat Transfer deals with the determination of the rates of such energy transfers as
well as variation of temperature.
• The transfer of energy as heat is always from the higher-temperature medium to
the lower-temperature one.
• Heat transfer stops when the two mediums reach the same temperature.

• Radiation is heat moving through space

from hot objects to cold objects.
• Conduction is heat movement through
contact.
• Convection is heat being carried along
with air movement.
 Introduction to Building Science

Heat transfer in buildings

 Introduction to Building Science

Radiation transfer in buildings

Short & long infrared (IR) waves

Window
Long wave IR
Radiation
Short wave
IR Radiation

Inside
Outside
 Introduction to Building Science

Radiation transfer in buildings

In a cooling climate, windows should restrict
heat gain with low solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC)
Less than 0.40.

In a heating climate using the passive solar design, you

may want a high SHGC on selected sides of the home to
take advantage of solar heating potential.

0.40-0.60 SHGC
 Introduction to Building Science

Buildings
 Introduction to Building Science

Conduction transfer in buildings

• Building materials all conduct heat from

hot to cold.

• We reduce conduction heat loss/ gain by

using insulation material
❖ Adding insulation requires a systems approach
 Introduction to Building Science

Conduction transfer in buildings

Insulation must be in contact with the surface it is
insulating

Spray foam can be our thermal

boundary to prevent cold air
movement
 Introduction to Building Science

Convection transfer in buildings

• Air movement takes place when a difference in
density exists within a given volume of air.

• Convective heat loss or gain can take place

without air exchange into or out of a building.

• Air leakage into and out of a home depends On

the pressure difference and hole size.

• Direction of airflow is always from a high(or

positive) pressure source to an area of lower
(or negative) pressure.
 Introduction to Building Science

Convection transfer in buildings

Airflow is measured in 𝑚2 /𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 or cubic feet

per minute(CFM)

❖ 𝑚2 /𝑠 into a building equals 𝑚2 /𝑠 out of the

building

❖ In buildings, air acts like an incompressible

fluid.

Hence 𝑚2 /𝑠 in = 𝑚2 /𝑠 out.
 Introduction to Building Science

Convection transfer in buildings

Airflow driving forces

❖ Stack effect
❖ Wind
❖ Fans How much control do we have over these forces?
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Bulk water
❖ Capillary action
❖ Air transported water vapor
❖ Vapor diffusion
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Bulk water
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Capillary action
• Bulk moisture moves into small spaces due to surface tension
• Common problem areas:
Concrete and masonry
Lapped siding

Capillary action
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Air transported water vapor

• Air movement is the primary

mechanism for water vapor transport.
❖ Relies on having an air pressure
difference and a path.
• Controlling airflow is essential to
limiting water vapor flow into areas we
don’t want it.
❖ Worry less about controlling
pressure and more about plugging
the holes.
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Vapor diffusion

• Movement of moisture vapor from an

area of higher pressure to an area of
lower pressure.
❖ Not to be confused with air
transported moisture that relies
on an air pressure difference
versus a vapor pressure
difference.
 Introduction to Building Science

2. Moisture movement in buildings

❖ Solving common moisture problems
▪ Control moisture sources
Keep surfaces warm
▪ Ventilate effectively when needed
❖ Don’t rush to ventilate
▪ Use appropriate materials
❖ In the right places
❖ In the correct way
 Introduction to Building Science

Creating effective thermal boundaries in

buildings
❖ Bringing the insulation and an air barrier
together is a priority

❖ Completing the thermal boundary is often

missed.
Insulation and air barrier must be together
and continuous
 Introduction to Building Science

Creating effective thermal boundaries in

buildings
❖ Spray foam can be the insulator and air
barrier, making it an effective thermal
boundary.
 Introduction to Building Science

Creating effective thermal boundaries in

buildings
 Introduction to Building Science

Moving/replacing thermal boundaries in

buildings
▪ Considerations

❖ Costs and savings associated with

retrofit
❖ Ease/difficulty of retrofit
❖ Occupant use of space
❖ Heating/cooling system sizing
❖ Distribution system location
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
▪ Furnace fans & ventilation systems
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
❖ Furnace fans

▪ In an ideal world little to no house

pressure change should occur with fan
operation.

❖ Duct leakage and poor ductwork

design change all this
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
❖ Ventilation system

▪ Exhaust only
❖ Negative pressure can be created
▪ Supply only
❖ Positive pressure can be created
▪ Heat recovery ventilation(HRV)
❖ Balanced or no net pressure change in
home
▪ Energy recovery ventilation(ERV)
❖ Balanced or no net pressure change in
home
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
❖ Exhaust only- pros and cons

▪ Some advantages
❖ In cold climate during the winter
months may help to keep wall
assemblies dry
❖ Easy to install

▪ Some disadvantage
❖ Uncontrolled air intake location
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
❖ Supply only- pros and cons

▪ Some advantages
❖ Dedicated intake

▪ Some disadvantages
❖ In a cold climate can force moisture
into building assemblies
❖ Furnace fan often used to draw
outdoor air in, requiring more
electrical consumption.
 Introduction to Building Science

3. Mechanical Systems-Effects on House

Pressure
❖ Balanced systems (HRV/ERV) pros and cons

▪ Some advantages
❖ Greater volume of ventilation often
achieved
❖ No impact on combustion applications
❖ Heat and /or moisture recovery

▪ Some disadvantages
❖ Often higher installation cost
❖ More space required for installation
 Group Test-Oral (04-10-2024)

• Divide into three groups NO Topics Marks .Rubrics

• Choose your Leader
1 Energy efficient 10 marks Level of engagement (5)
• You are going to work as a team to buildings motivation Understanding (3)
Communication (2)
answer the questions posed by the
examiner orally (more like an 2 Energy conservation 5 marks Synthesis of the subject (5)
interview) Context- (3)
Group contribution (2)
Question structure 3 Energy efficiency 5 marks Relating content to reality (5)
• Motivation to invest in energy efficient Group discussions (3)
Teamwork (2)
buildings
• The value of energy conservation and 4 Heat in buildings 10 marks Demonstrate technical skills
efficiency (5),
Heat movement skills (3),
• Heat movement in buildings
Heat transfer skills (2)

• Overall learnings from the building 5 Take home 5 marks Relate the content to future
work (5)
science lecture
6 Group cohesion & 15 marks Teambuilding (5)
communication Confidence (5)
Leadership (5)

Total = 50 marks