Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact

Amidst mounting concerns over global climate change, there is an urgent need to adapt to the built sector's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This study analyzes the performance of the INDUVA Near Zero Energy Building (nZEB) at the University of Valladolid, Spain, exploring...

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Main Authors: Nada Youssef Ahmed, Francisco Javier Rey Martínez, Javier M. Rey Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025026143
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author Nada Youssef Ahmed
Francisco Javier Rey Martínez
Javier M. Rey Hernández
author_facet Nada Youssef Ahmed
Francisco Javier Rey Martínez
Javier M. Rey Hernández
author_sort Nada Youssef Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Amidst mounting concerns over global climate change, there is an urgent need to adapt to the built sector's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This study analyzes the performance of the INDUVA Near Zero Energy Building (nZEB) at the University of Valladolid, Spain, exploring how building dynamics interact with climate change scenarios for 2022, 2050, and 2080, which projects a 25 % decrease in heating consumption and a 100 % increase in cooling consumption by 2050. By 2080, heating consumption is expected to drop by 39 %, while cooling consumption may rise by 170 %. As a result, CO2 emissions are projected to increase by 10 % in 2050 and 14.5 % by 2080. Additionally, the study examines the impacts of relocating the non-residential nZEB to different climate regions, including Tropical, Arid, Continental, and Polar regions. Using DesignBuilder Version 7 and CCWeatherGen, it simulates energy consumption and CO2 emissions across various future weather files, reflecting diverse scenarios, which evaluates relocation scenarios to Juneau and Warsaw, revealing performance improvements in CO2 emissions with a decrease of 3.94 and 2.9 tons/year, respectively, in 2022 and a further reduction in 2050 and 2080. This study highlights the importance of adapting thermal insulation and material selection, especially when relocating to polar and continental climates by 2050 and 2080. Overall, this study explores the relocation of nZEBs in five climate regions, highlighting the interaction between design, climate, and energy performance. It emphasizes the necessity for region-specific solutions and renewable energy integration to enhance resilience and sustainability amid changing climate challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-a527a1f0736e44fda4d1df9a3ec1de372025-08-03T04:43:02ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-0127106545Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impactNada Youssef Ahmed0Francisco Javier Rey Martínez1Javier M. Rey Hernández2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Egypt; Department of Energy and Fluid Mechanics, Engineering School (EII), University of Valladolid, Spain; Corresponding author.Department of Energy and Fluid Mechanics, Engineering School (EII), University of Valladolid, Spain; GIRTER Research Group. Consolidated Research Unit (UIC053) of Castile and Leon, SpainMechanical, Thermal and Fluid Engineering Department, University of Málaga (Spain), Spain; GIRTER Research Group. Consolidated Research Unit (UIC053) of Castile and Leon, Spain; RE+ Research Group, (TEP1003) Andalucía, SpainAmidst mounting concerns over global climate change, there is an urgent need to adapt to the built sector's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This study analyzes the performance of the INDUVA Near Zero Energy Building (nZEB) at the University of Valladolid, Spain, exploring how building dynamics interact with climate change scenarios for 2022, 2050, and 2080, which projects a 25 % decrease in heating consumption and a 100 % increase in cooling consumption by 2050. By 2080, heating consumption is expected to drop by 39 %, while cooling consumption may rise by 170 %. As a result, CO2 emissions are projected to increase by 10 % in 2050 and 14.5 % by 2080. Additionally, the study examines the impacts of relocating the non-residential nZEB to different climate regions, including Tropical, Arid, Continental, and Polar regions. Using DesignBuilder Version 7 and CCWeatherGen, it simulates energy consumption and CO2 emissions across various future weather files, reflecting diverse scenarios, which evaluates relocation scenarios to Juneau and Warsaw, revealing performance improvements in CO2 emissions with a decrease of 3.94 and 2.9 tons/year, respectively, in 2022 and a further reduction in 2050 and 2080. This study highlights the importance of adapting thermal insulation and material selection, especially when relocating to polar and continental climates by 2050 and 2080. Overall, this study explores the relocation of nZEBs in five climate regions, highlighting the interaction between design, climate, and energy performance. It emphasizes the necessity for region-specific solutions and renewable energy integration to enhance resilience and sustainability amid changing climate challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025026143Carbon emissionsClimate changeClimate resilienceEnergy performance monitoringLong-term modelingNon-residential nZEB
spellingShingle Nada Youssef Ahmed
Francisco Javier Rey Martínez
Javier M. Rey Hernández
Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
Results in Engineering
Carbon emissions
Climate change
Climate resilience
Energy performance monitoring
Long-term modeling
Non-residential nZEB
title Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
title_full Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
title_fullStr Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
title_full_unstemmed Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
title_short Climate-resilient zero energy buildings: Long-term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
title_sort climate resilient zero energy buildings long term modelling for energy efficiency and renewables impact
topic Carbon emissions
Climate change
Climate resilience
Energy performance monitoring
Long-term modeling
Non-residential nZEB
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025026143
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AT franciscojavierreymartinez climateresilientzeroenergybuildingslongtermmodellingforenergyefficiencyandrenewablesimpact
AT javiermreyhernandez climateresilientzeroenergybuildingslongtermmodellingforenergyefficiencyandrenewablesimpact