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1. Overall concept of Ecoshopping Methodology for holistic retrofitting in commercial buildings

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This topic is about the Overall concept of Ecoshopping Methodology for holistic retrofitting in commercial buildings.
This document will introduce the steps for the retrofitting assessment, definition and deployment:
1. Project Setup and Pre-retrofit Survey
2. Energy Auditing and Performance Assessment
3. Identification of Retrofit Options
4. Site Implementation and Testing
5. Validation and Verification
It aims to give an overall concept to guide the user in the different processes and decisions as the assessment of the retrofitting needs, the evaluation of the different retrofitting actuation possibilities, the economic and energetic analysis of each actuation and the decision making of the suitable retrofitting level according to the economic conditions.

2. Project Setup and Pre-retrofit Survey

This topic, as the first step of a retrofitting project, introduce how to prepare the needed document, information, especially the surveys needed to carry out before making decision and retrofitting solutions.
The “Project Setup and Pre-retrofit Survey” includes four key activities: analysis of legal framework, benchmarking, surveys, analysis of investment and benefits.
Especially for the pre-retrofitting surveys, as part of Ecoshopping methodology, play an important role and affect greatly the filtering of the retrofit options identified. It is essential to collect the needs and requirements of both owners and end-users, and to identify current dissatisfaction or desired issues that could be simultaneously improved without additional costs. The surveys mainly include owner requirement and end user assessment. The template “Appendix 7. Owner questionnaire” created in Ecoshopping as part of the Ecoshopping methodology can be used as a mean to gather and define building owner’s requirements toward the retrofitting scope and the future market positioning of the building. On the other hand, energy consumption in a building depends on the indoor environment conditions (temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.) and building operation, which are also tightly related to the particular indoor comfort of the occupants and the indoor air quality regional/national regulations. Opinion from the end users towards the current indoor comfort level can be assessed by using the “Appendix 8. Comfort Questionnaire”, with which, parameters should be improved in order to achieve a better indoor environment can also be identified.

3. Energy Auditing and Performance Assessment

Energy audits play an essential role in energy retrofit programmes by identifying areas with energy saving potential and provide the information needed in building performance assessment. This topic will introduce different steps of energy audit and the key elements of a commercial building energy audits/analysis.

4. Identification of Retrofit Options

This topic focus on how to identify potential retrofit options knowing the needs and efficiencies of the building.
The identification of all the possible options is needed for the best choice of the suitable retrofit option according to the particular conditions. The process for identifying the different retrofitting options has a special consideration in the cases with a staged approach. The key of the staged upgrade approach is to complete improvements to building systems in the order that reflects the influence of one system on another. A simple workflow is introduced in current topic to analyse the retrofit options. Different technologies were introduced.

5. Site Implementation and Testing

This topic focus on the steps necessary to complete the implementation of the retrofitting options identified in step 4.
A Gantt Chart example is provided, monitoring and awareness issues are also included as part of the implementation.

6. Validation and Verification

This topic is introduced to evaluate if the actuation corresponds to the expected performance and verify the achievement of the desired energy efficiency and comfort level.
General steps to perform the post-retrofitting assessment is introduced.

1. Insulating technologies for wall/roof/window and database

This topic introduces the insulation materials for wall, roof and window, both latest technologies and commercial materials are included. A database collecting different materials is introduced, including different parameters of the material and the link for public assess.

2. Insulation solutions

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In this topic, the insulation solution and procedure optimization are described. The implementation of insulation solutions is divided into 3 different systems (external, internal and mixture), each one is also subdivided in different categories taking into account different aspects.

1. Lighting technologies and design

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This topic focuses on the introduction and SWOT analysis of different lighting technologies. Including the daylighting, conventional artificial lighting and latest technologies. Design process and key elements need to be took into account are also introduced.

2. Lighting quality, visual comfort and standards

This topic introduces the concept of lighting quality, visual comfort as key indicators to assess the lighting system. A general overview of the lighting standards, recommendations and technical reports are given for reference.

1. Inefficiencies of HVAC systems in commercial buildings

There are several ways to know if the HVAC system is in need of an upgrade, Symptoms of an inefficient HVAC system are introduced in this topic aiming to help the learner to identify potential problems of the building.

2. Categories of Cooling and Heating systems

This topic gives a clear idea of all the systems that can be integrated in the HVAC system of a shopping center for cooling and heating. These systems are broken down into different categories and introduced in this topic.

3. HVAC, RES technologies and SWOT analysis

In this topic, some available technologies for energy efficient improvements are described.
To facilitate the easy understanding, a list of technology options that could potentially reduce the energy consumption of HVAC systems in commercial buildings are introduced before having more deeper analysis.
A SWOT analysis of the introduced HVAC and RES are included.

4. Renewable energy powered dc heat pump

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This topic introduces the concept and system design of a renewable energy powered DC heat pump, and the integration and coupling with different components, including PV system, ceiling and AC heat pumps.

5. Guidelines for the integrated RES based HVAC systems

Several lessons were learned regarding the RES based HVAC system coupled with capillary tube during the implementation of the system in the demo site. This topic address the key processes in installation and provide as a guideline for other implementations of such system in other buildings. The validated model and dimensioning tools are included as part of the guideline as extra material aiming to facilitate the decision making of system design.

1. Requirement for system control

This topic focus on the definition of the system requirements, specification and architecture of the intelligent control unit. This requirement mainly includes the functional requirements, non-functional requirements, performance requirements and data requirements. Knowing this requirement, it would help the end user in getting more clearer ideas of the expected system and definition of the control needed.

2. Sensing technologies

This topic defines the Sensor Network to collect data from the target building, aiming to help selecting and executing a detailed monitoring and metering of energy consumption and indoor environment, and help in verifying the final performance of the building. The sensor network described in this topic mainly includes low cost monitoring components and also an innovative autonomous mobile platform, which are oriented on the evaluation of site indoor environment parameters measurement, such as: thermal comfort, relative humidity, and air quality, together with energy consumption.

3. Control system

This topic introduces the overall picture of the intelligent control unit, software specification, hardware specification, and its system architecture. It is also expected to help the end user to better define the wanted system if new needs immerge.

4. Introduction of Acoustic Sensing and mobile robot

This topic introduces the overall concept the status of the state-of-art acoustic sensing and mobile robot technology, which was used in a shopping centre in Ecoshopping technology and could be further implemented in other sectors or application. The Project Group for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology at the Fraunhofer IDMT develops hardware and software for capturing and processing acoustic data in cable-based or wireless sensor networks. The sensor node is based on a software framework for acoustic event recognition which can be connected to existing technological back-ends via standardised interfaces and communication protocols. The Fraunhofer IDMT offers robust signal processing methods and a wide range of recogniser modules which can be adapted to different application scenarios.