A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition

This paper explores the development of positive energy communities using Eordaia, Greece, as a case study. The approach combines building and district-level energy analysis to achieve nearly zero energy performance through retrofitting, district-level storage systems, and renewable energy technologi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Georgios Martinopoulos, Alexandros Tsimpoukis, Vasileios Sougkakis, Petros Dallas, Komninos Angelakoglou, Paraskevi Giourka, Nikolaos Nikolopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5581
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846153666815328256
author Georgios Martinopoulos
Alexandros Tsimpoukis
Vasileios Sougkakis
Petros Dallas
Komninos Angelakoglou
Paraskevi Giourka
Nikolaos Nikolopoulos
author_facet Georgios Martinopoulos
Alexandros Tsimpoukis
Vasileios Sougkakis
Petros Dallas
Komninos Angelakoglou
Paraskevi Giourka
Nikolaos Nikolopoulos
author_sort Georgios Martinopoulos
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the development of positive energy communities using Eordaia, Greece, as a case study. The approach combines building and district-level energy analysis to achieve nearly zero energy performance through retrofitting, district-level storage systems, and renewable energy technologies. A parametric analysis utilizing RETSCREEN Expert and EnergyPlan software determines the optimal mix of technologies based on technical and financial parameters, with Eordaia, a region in energy transition and part of the RESPONSE Horizon project, illustrating the practical benefits. It includes a neighborhood of 105 mixed-use properties and two municipal buildings where a range of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures are applied. Insulation, photovoltaic systems, LED lighting, predictive thermostats, and windows coated with nanotechnology are some of the key interventions considered. The findings show considerable reductions in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and energy use, with payback periods ranging from 8.7 to 9.6 years. This study underscores the value of district-level strategies over individual building retrofits, highlighting cost savings and improved energy performance. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers aiming to transform urban areas into sustainable, positive energy districts, supporting the EU’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals.
format Article
id doaj-art-8f780b5d3a8b48f49783b2119c9230e0
institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj-art-8f780b5d3a8b48f49783b2119c9230e02024-11-26T18:01:55ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011722558110.3390/en17225581A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy TransitionGeorgios Martinopoulos0Alexandros Tsimpoukis1Vasileios Sougkakis2Petros Dallas3Komninos Angelakoglou4Paraskevi Giourka5Nikolaos Nikolopoulos6Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceChemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, GR-57001 Thessalonik, GreeceThis paper explores the development of positive energy communities using Eordaia, Greece, as a case study. The approach combines building and district-level energy analysis to achieve nearly zero energy performance through retrofitting, district-level storage systems, and renewable energy technologies. A parametric analysis utilizing RETSCREEN Expert and EnergyPlan software determines the optimal mix of technologies based on technical and financial parameters, with Eordaia, a region in energy transition and part of the RESPONSE Horizon project, illustrating the practical benefits. It includes a neighborhood of 105 mixed-use properties and two municipal buildings where a range of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures are applied. Insulation, photovoltaic systems, LED lighting, predictive thermostats, and windows coated with nanotechnology are some of the key interventions considered. The findings show considerable reductions in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and energy use, with payback periods ranging from 8.7 to 9.6 years. This study underscores the value of district-level strategies over individual building retrofits, highlighting cost savings and improved energy performance. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers aiming to transform urban areas into sustainable, positive energy districts, supporting the EU’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5581positive energyenergy efficiencysmart and green buildings and districtsurban developmentsustainabilityretrofitting
spellingShingle Georgios Martinopoulos
Alexandros Tsimpoukis
Vasileios Sougkakis
Petros Dallas
Komninos Angelakoglou
Paraskevi Giourka
Nikolaos Nikolopoulos
A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
Energies
positive energy
energy efficiency
smart and green buildings and districts
urban development
sustainability
retrofitting
title A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
title_full A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
title_fullStr A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
title_full_unstemmed A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
title_short A Comprehensive Approach to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings and Districts: Analysis of a Region Undergoing Energy Transition
title_sort comprehensive approach to nearly zero energy buildings and districts analysis of a region undergoing energy transition
topic positive energy
energy efficiency
smart and green buildings and districts
urban development
sustainability
retrofitting
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5581
work_keys_str_mv AT georgiosmartinopoulos acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT alexandrostsimpoukis acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT vasileiossougkakis acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT petrosdallas acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT komninosangelakoglou acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT paraskevigiourka acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT nikolaosnikolopoulos acomprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT georgiosmartinopoulos comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT alexandrostsimpoukis comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT vasileiossougkakis comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT petrosdallas comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT komninosangelakoglou comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT paraskevigiourka comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition
AT nikolaosnikolopoulos comprehensiveapproachtonearlyzeroenergybuildingsanddistrictsanalysisofaregionundergoingenergytransition