Arquivo da Categoria ‘Investigação’

Uma casa dos anos 30, sustentável?

Sexta-feira, 7 de Agosto, 2009

Um dos maiores desafios à implementação de programas de eficiência energética à escala das cidades, sobretudo tendo em conta a complexidade e diversidade construtivas das grandes cidades e cidades com centenas de anos, é modelar as próprias estratégias de eficiência. Que grau de intrusão —em matéria de alterações e requalificação— pode ser considerado aceitável? Que tipologias de intervenção? Que custos? Que parcerias e plataformas colaborativas poderão ser construídas para proceder a operações em larga escala? Como justificar e financiar os investimentos necessários sem provar previamente a qualidade das soluções? Recriar em ambiente de laboratório, casas e bairros, pode ser o caminho certo. — CS

Leaky 1930s test house gets 2016-style makeover
Posted by Greenbang on August 6th, 2009

Why would the University of Nottingham build a house meeting 1930s specifications in 2008? So it can use it as a guinea pig for a zero-carbon renovation experiment, the results of which will be relevant to millions of householders across the UK.

The house is about to undergo the first of three planned energy-efficiency upgrades ultimately aimed at helping it meet the Government’s 2016 zero-CO2 targets for all new housing. Over the next two weeks, the university will improve the house with cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, draft-proofing, double-glazing and other upgrades.

The university actually had to seek special planning permission when it built the house to 1930s standards. The building features open fires, single-glazed windows, inefficient water heating and no insulation. The 1930s semi is an icon of its age; three million were built and they remain a major part of the UK’s current housing stock.

The three-year research project to transform the structure to a zero-carbon one is being led by experts from the School of the Built Environment together with the energy firm E.ON.

The E.ON 2016 House is part of the Creative Energy Homes project, which has seen a total of six new homes built on University Park. Green Close showcases innovative state-of-the-art energy efficient housing of the future. The project is testing of different aspects of modern methods of construction, including layout and form, cladding materials, roof structures, foundations, glazing materials, thermal performance, building services systems, sustainable and renewable energy technologies, lighting systems, acoustics and water supply. The project aims to stimulate sustainable design ideas and promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable housing that are innovative in their design. — in Greenbang.

Ler ainda:

1930s home goes green

Dr Mark Gillott, who is leading the research, said: “The house provides us with a unique test facility to measure the exact cost benefit, energy efficiency and carbon reduction figures achieved through the various upgrade measures we are implementing over the next two weeks — valuable information when deciding on which of the many energy efficiency measures are the most cost effective.” — in The University of Nottingham, Communications.

Do iPod ao Pod_home

Quinta-feira, 6 de Agosto, 2009
Um projecto optimista para a Bienal de Veneza 2009

Um projecto optimista para a Bienal de Veneza 2009

August 6, 2009
MercuryHouseOne: Sleek Solar-Powered Mobile Lounge
by Bridgette Meinhold

There are mobile offices, mobile hedges, mobile homes and mobile phones, and just when you thought you couldn’t get more mobile, now there are super sleek mobile lounges! Designed by Italy-based Architecture and Vision, the MercuryHouseOne is a portable pod-like lounge that will debut at the Venice Biennale this September. Powered by solar panels and decked out with the latest lighting, video, and sound technologies, the curvaceous capsule is meant to provide a unique experience whether placed in nature in the heart of a bustling city. — in Inhabitat.

Embora o grande desafio passe prioritariamente pelo desenvolvimento de novos hábitos de consumo sustentável, pela eficiência energética e pela recomposição das cidades (retrofitting), a criatividade pura é sempre um tónico imprescindível, sobretudo diante dos grandes desafios. — CS.

Fotovoltaico de Alto Rendimento

Quarta-feira, 5 de Agosto, 2009

A eficiência da energia fotovoltaica é um desafio ainda por vencer.

A Terra roda sobre si mesma, e por conseguinte, à noite, os paineis solares não recebem a energia solar de que necessitam. Por outro lado, sobretudo nas cidades e tecidos urbanos existentes, a busca de uma óptima exposição solar —i.e. aquela que garante rendimentos de eficiência energética da ordem dos 30%— é uma tarefa por vezes espinhosa e nada pacífica em termos sociais, culturais e até legais, mesmo em países com grande exposição solar, tais como Portugal, Espanha, Marrocos, Brasil, Angola, Moçambique, etc.

Daqui decorre a necessidade absoluta de aumentar a performance tecnológica dos actuais painéis solares fotovoltaicos, sem aumentar os custos por metro quadrado — antes pelo contrário: conseguindo mesmo que desçam! Esta não é uma tarefa fácil.

No entanto, do Imperial College de Londres chegam notícias animadoras sobre o potencial a curto prazo dos chamados concentradores solares. Foi nesta prestigiada instituição académica e científica que Keith Barnham e a sua equipa de investigadores desenvolveram uma tecnologia conhecida por Quantum Well Solar Cells. Entretanto, uma spin-out desta investigação deu lugar ao aparecimento da empresa Quanta Sol, apostada numa arquitectura muito sofisticada de concentração solar.

Nos Estados Unidos, por sua vez, Allen Barnett, da University of Delaware, tem vindo a trabalhar em tecnologias afins ao mesmo paradigma —conhecido por Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC)—, com o apoio do Strategic Technology Office, um departamento do conhecido Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Resumindo e concluindo, estas duas linhas de investigação e desenvolvimento prometem-nos uma subida dramática da eficiência da energia solar fotovoltaica já a partir de 2012. Uma promessa que não poderia chegar em melhor altura! — CS.

Citações:

QuantaSol unveils 28.3% efficient single-junction solar cell World Record
30 Jun 2009 by Sue Sparkes

QuantaSol unveils 28.3% efficient single-junction solar cell World record made public at UK’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition

Kingston-upon-Thames UK, June 30th 2009:

QuantaSol Ltd, a new independent designer and manufacturer of strain-balanced quantum-well solar cells, has developed what it believes to be the most efficient single junction solar cell ever manufactured. Developed in just two years, QuantaSol’s single-junction device has been independently tested by Fraunhofer ISE as achieving 28.3% efficiency at greater than 500 suns.

QuantaSol was established in June 2007 as a spin-out of Imperial College London to commercialise the University’s solar cell IP and offer devices to concentrator Photovoltaic (PV) systems developers. Imperial will be featuring a QuantaSol device as part of its presence at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in London this week. — in QuantaSol.

Very High Efficiency Solar Cell

Program Manager: Dr. Brian Pierce

The objective of the Very High Efficiency Solar Cell program is to design, build and demonstrate engineering prototype solar cell modules that have high efficiency and are manufacturable. To achieve this objective, the VHESC program will develop technologies to reduce the costs of the solar cells and optical components.

The VHESC program final deliverables are to design, build and demonstrate at least 5 m2 of engineering prototype modules that are manufacturable and have an east-west field of view (FOV) ≥ ±60°, a north-south FOV ≥ ±25° , a system power efficiency (SPE) ≥ 40%, and a module manufacturing cost per m2 ≤ $1500. The SPE includes all factors that impact the system (module) power efficiency such as the power conversion efficiency, as well as the individual efficiencies of the photovoltaic (PV) cells. — Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/ o Strategic Technology Office.