ZeroBuild Journal

Investigation of the 'Synergy Area' Concept for Energy Interaction of Buildings

Hüseyin Aslan — 2024-07-29

In This paper, the importance of synergy zones in university campus buildings is examined. Synergy zones are shared spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration among individuals from different disciplines, fostering innovation. These zones, created with attention to design principles such as flexibility, accessibility, and technological equipment, provide ideal environments for group work, socialization, and cultural activities for students and academics. The results demonstrate that well-designed synergy areas enhance the quality of campus life by increasing interaction and satisfaction. Energy efficiency in buildings, which entails minimizing energy consumption without compromising service quality, is also a focal point. Effective use of synergy zones can significantly impact a building's energy use, thereby improving efficiency. The article covers topics such as the design and use of synergy zones, efficient use of water and energy resources, types of buildings and their energy consumption, and innovative energy solutions like piezoelectric generators. It also touches on Ataturk's village-city project, aiming to create sustainable and self-sufficient rural communities through efficient resource management and community cooperation.

Investigation of the Effect of Building Shell Colors on Energy Performance in Different Climate Zones

Safiye Nur Erkara — 2024-07-29

This study investigates the effects of building exterior wall colors on heating and cooling energy consumption. Analyses conducted in four different climate zones of Turkey (Erzurum, Antalya, Konya, Konya and Balıkesir) reveal that there are significant differences in energy efficiency between black, white, yellow and dark blue wall colors. In the study, the energy performance of a sample building and the effect of building envelope color on solar radiation were analytically calculated. Black shell color is good for saving energy for heating, while white shell color is good for saving energy for cooling. Depending on the climatic conditions, the most suitable wall colors for Erzurum, Konya and Balıkesir are black or dark colors, and white or light colors for Antalya. This study highlights the strategic importance of color selection in building design to reduce energy consumption. The results show that light colored building envelope reduces the cooling load by 51-76% and increases the heating load by 6-28%. On the other hand, the dark building envelope increases the cooling load by 50-76% and reduces the heating load by 18-41%.

Case Study on Improving the Energy Performance of Existing Buildings Towards Net Zero or Nearly Zero Energy Building Transition

Sedat Vatandaş — 2024-07-29

The European Union introduced the concepts of Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) and Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in 2010, leading to a shift in energy efficiency efforts in buildings, especially in response to increasing energy consumption. In this study, the current energy usage of an educational building with an approximate usable area of 20,000 m² and an energy consumption of 225 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) was thoroughly examined. Based on this analysis, efficiency recommendations were made. Beyond energy-efficient building applications, potential studies for Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) and Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) applications were analyzed in terms of emissions and costs.

The benchmarking results showed that the initial investment cost for nZEB applications in existing buildings is twice as much, and for NZEB applications, three times as much, compared to energy-efficient building works. It was observed that energy-efficient building, nZEB, and NZEB applications provide efficiency rates of 35%, 69%, and 100%, respectively. When comparing the costs of emission reduction per ton, the highest cost was calculated for NZEB applications at 107,274 TL, while the lowest cost was for nZEB applications at 96,252 TL.