Methodology Framework for Plus Energy Buildings and Neighbourhoods

:: Initiative Output

General Description
The report presents the “syn.ikia’s methodology for the evaluation of positive energy buildings and neighbourhoods. The common evaluation framework defines the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the evaluation of the demonstration projects which will be implemented at two levels: buildings and neighbourhoods. The selection of the main assessed categories and KPIs have been based in a holistic and exhaustive methodology which highlights the multiple dimensions when talking about sustainability in districts. At the building scale, the monitoring will be carried out in selected dwellings of the neighbourhoods in each of the four climatic zones and at the whole building level. At the neighbourhood scale, the assessment and the monitoring will cover the whole neighbourhood, taking in consideration the interaction of buildings, the common active systems and flexibility strategies.
The Sustainable Positive Energy Neighbourhood (SPEN) is defined as a group of interconnected buildings with associated infrastructure, located within both a confined geographical area and a virtual boundary. A SPEN aims to reduce its direct and indirect energy use towards zero over an adopted complete year and increased use and production of renewable energy according to a normalization factor.”
The assessment methodology addresses the following five categories:
• “Energy and Environmental, which address overall energy and environmental performance, matching factors between load and on-site renewable generation and grid interaction
• Economic, addressing capital costs and operational costs
• Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), addressing thermal and visual comfort, as well as indoor air quality
• Social indicators that address the aspects of equity, community and people
• Smartness and Energy Flexibility
For each category, several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are defined with details on the calculation procedure and the rationale for their selection. The evaluation framework includes detailed guidelines on how to calculate and assess the different dimensions and the related KPIs, both during the design phase and the operational phase of a construction project.”
Source: D3.1 Methodology Framework for Plus Energy Buildings and Neighbourhoods, the syn.ikia project report
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