Experimental investigation of microscopic CO₂ injection for enhanced oil recovery in tight reservoirs

Oil exploitation of tight reservoirs has gained significant importance lately. Some researchers have defined tight reservoirs as those characterized with permeability lower than 0.1 mD. However, permeability is an absolute value, and tight reservoirs have complex pore systems that require a detailed geological and petrophysical rock...

Modeling Low Energy Demand Futures for Buildings: Current State and Research Needs

Buildings are key in supporting human activities and well-being by providing shelter and other important services to their users. Buildings are, however, also responsible for major energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during their life cycle. Improving the quality of services provided by buildings while reaching low energy demand ...

Introducing a toolkit to apply behavioural insights to energy policy

Public and private organisations have several instruments at hand to reduce consumer demand for energy. These instruments can take the form of information campaigns, various subsidy programs, or regulations to encourage consumers to adopt greener technology, develop energy-efficient habits or travel more sustainably. However, the well-intended...

Investigating human behaviour using sensors measuring the indoor climate and energy performance of three Dutch residential dwellings

A Field Study on Thermal Comfort and Cooling Load Demand Optimization in a Tropical Climate

Energy consumption to cool an indoor environment is a substantial part of total energy end-use, particularly in a tropical climate with high energy demand for cooling. To improve energy efficiency, cooling systems can be optimized using a variety of neutral indoor temperatures to maintain a balance between an occupant’s thermal comfort and...

An Integrated Microclimate-Energy Demand Simulation Method for the Assessment of Urban Districts

Rapid urbanization and densification processes are changing microclimatic environments in cities around the world. Even though previous studies have demonstrated the impact of urban microclimate on space cooling and heating demand, modeling tools employed to support the design process largely overlook microclimatic conditions in assessing...

Exploiting the Potential of Integrated Public Building Data: Energy Performance Assessment of the Building Stock in a Case Study in Northern Italy

Smart management of urban built environment relies on the availability of data supporting sound policy making and guiding city renovation processes toward more sustainable and performant models. Nevertheless, public managers are unlikely to have comprehensive information on the existing building stock. In addition, tools providing effective...

Urban Microclimate and Energy Performance: An Integrated Simulation Method

In the design practice simulation methods are already widely used to support the understanding of energy performance and to help designers in reducing energy demand during the design process. However, energy simulation tools are largely limited to the individual building level, and urban microclimate conditions and<br/>variations in local wind,...

Development of Dutch occupancy and heating profiles for building simulation

Building simulations are often used to predict energy demand and to determine the financial feasibility of the low-carbon projects. However, recent research has documented large differences between actual and predicted energy consumption. In retrofit projects, this difference creates uncertainty about the payback periods and, as a consequence...

Impact of service sector loads on renewable resource integration

Urban areas consist of a mix of households and services, such as offices, shops and schools. Yet most urban energy models only consider household load profiles, omitting the service sector. Realistic assessment of the potential for renewable resource integration in cities requires models that include detailed demand and generation profiles....

The Inefficiencies of Energy Efficiency: Reviewing the Strategic Role of Energy Efficiency and its Effectiveness in Alleviating Climate Change

Our present economy is high-energy and demand-intensive, demand met through the use of high energy yield fossil fuels. Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are proposed as the solution and named the ‘twin pillars’ of sustainable energy policy. Increasing energy efficiencies are expected to reduce energy demand and fossil fuel use and...

Home energy monitors: Impact over the medium-term

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), e.g. energy monitors, are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS increasingly receive attention for their role in energy conservation in households. A literature review and a case study examine the mid-term effectiveness ...