This presentation will provide an overview of a study that explores novel low exergy strategies to minimize exergy destruction and to improve high-performance building technologies. In order to investigate methods for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in specific climates, this study proposes new optimized models, Hybrid Solar Panel, Co-axial borehole, Heap pump system, advanced low energy decentralized ventilation systems that integrate both passive and active components, and an Airbox convector hydronically connected in series with chilled radiant ceiling panels. In addition, this study discusses the performance of a CO2 capture device and its utilization to contribute to the development of Zero Emission Building Technologies and to reduce the complexity of the mechanical installations.

The urban thermal environment is influenced by the effect of local weather conditions, building geometry, façade materials and other environmental impacts. These effects are highly connected to building energy efficiency. In order to show strategies for reducing the environmental impacts, this study initially compares the effects of several boundary conditions and of urban thermal environments on the energy efficiency of the system. This research’s findings can in turn be applied to the field of building systems to create integrated systems considering specific climate conditions and urban thermal environments. Current case studies reveal that ventilation models have 1) significant functional limitations for cooling and dehumidification schemes in specific local environments; 2) need for an additional device to prevent moisture condensation caused by humidity gains in hot and humid climates; and 3) possible over prediction of minimum mechanical ventilation requirements when using a CO2 capture device in buildings.

These new low exergy ventilation strategies subsequently reduce the overall energy and exergy demand of buildings, and increase the system efficiency.

Moon Keun Kim is a Ph.D. candidate at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). His research interests include low exergy and zero emission architecture, building energy simulation and computational fluid dynamics.