A review of the solar water heating equations in the BRE Domestic Energy Model was carried out using data from a recent monitoring project. The savings predicted by the model did not match the test data well, so improved equations were devised. Predictions from the new method were then tested against the measured savings from monitored systems and found to match the test data much better.

Evidence suggests that a significant number of large highly-glazed spaces have major design flaws that lead to energy wastage and discomfort. Provision to control solar gains are generally insufficient in these buildings, which can lead to excessively high temperatures during the summer. Besides, the solutions implemented to overcome these issues usually have a high energy cost, whereas passive techniques may well limit these problems. This paper deals with design issues related to solar protections.

Actually and in the near future, due to the necessity of refrigeration, the need of thermal energy dissipation systems will be increased. One of the best element, is the cooling tower, but it has one mean inconvenient, what is the use of a fan. The use of the fan has the following misfortunes: waste of energy, noise, vibration and dissemination of Legionella, if it is present.

External shading systems, window systems and light control systems try to reach the indoor comfort and energy saving by approaches, that are different in complexity, costs and results; besides a good coordination among them could produce better performances. This paper analyses the office space energy demand connected to the use of different glazing materials, light control systems and external fixed shading devices for office buildings, with the aim to optimize their usage aspects and characteristics.

The building system provides a solar energy passive contribution into a bio-climatic assembly. The heat carrier is the air. The solar radiation thermal conversion is made through the greenhouse effect. The air is diffused in the inner space naturally, due to pressure and temperature differences, without using mechanical means. There is a synergy, a cooperation of the assembly of building elements which, to this end, have multiple functions.

Energy performance standardisation evaluates all measures at the building and building services level that improve energy efficiency. Thermostatic valves are one of the choices, which are considered. To demonstrate their effect, a detached house, a terraced house and an apartment with three different levels of thermal insulation and hydronic heating were evaluated. Variants considered were (1) the fuel, (2) the boiler and (4) thermostatic valves or not. The TRNSYS and BOILSIM tools were used to simulate an Ukkel TRY-year.

The potential of controlling techniques for an electrochromic device is investigated in a systematic way, using both experimental and theoretical tools. Concerning the theoretical part a model was developed in the TRNSYS environment and validated against experimental data. These data were collected from experiments, which were carried out in a PASSYS test cell with a movable wall. Having established a good model performance several cases of window types (such as a 4mm clear window and a low-e double glazing) and controlling strategies for the electrochromic device are simulated.

Experimental and analytical assessment of three types of spacer bars used in making insulated glass (IG) units were performed and reported earlier, Elmahdy et al (1993). In that study, the authors presented the results of finite difference model and guarded hotbox measurements of the temperature distribution and overall U-factor of the three glazing systems. It was clear from that analysis that the so-called warm edge spacer bars demonstrated better thermal performance compared with conventional metal spacer bars.

Since the wall insulation of buildings and the quality of glazing improve more and more, the window frame becomes the weak point in the facade from a thermal perspective. This paper discusses a new frameless window construction. Results in this paper show that the best position of the glass is in the middle of the insulation. This new junction has an almost 40 % lower energy loss compared to a traditional junction. Computer simulations as well as experimental measurements of a full-scale prototype have proven this.

The paper describes the comfort analysis based on simulation tools, microclimaticmeasurements and people response to interview.The results confirm a discrepancy between quantitative evaluation and sensatioin vote, butlowe then one reported by other authors.