Research projects
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UMfCUR
Urban Mining for Circular Urban Renewal: a bottom-up life cycle assessment framework
Summary
Resource efficiency is one of the key pillars in the EuropeanGreen Deal. Whilethe circular economy action plan will guide the transition of all sectors,theresource-intensive construction sectorwill be a key focus.An important strategy in this context is using the existing stock to mine construction materials. Detailed bottom-up information is required to enhance resource efficiency through urban mining of theexisting building stock. It should be clear how many materials are currently in the stock, when these will become available and to what extent these can be reclaimed in an environmentally viable way.The objective of this research proposal is to develop aspatio-temporal building stock model allowing to gain these insights.In contrast to currently applied top-down (black-box) modelling approaches, a bottom-up approachis envisioned thatenablesidentifyingthe location of the materials, how these are implemented in the buildingsand when these will become available. The innovation of the research lies inthe high granularity of the model with rich-data spatialised using a Geographical Information System.This model will quantifythe amount of materials that will become available, identify their location andestimate theirtime of occurrence. The model will assess how these material flows can be reclaimed in an environmentally viable way, quantifying embodied environmental flows as compared to a business-as-usual approach.The model will be used to assess various renovation cases in the cities of Leuven and Brusselsto demonstrateand test the approach on actual data.
Planning:
1/2022 - 1/2026
Architecture et Climat:
Promotor: André Stephan
Funding by
UCLouvain/KULeuven Global PhD Programme
Partners:
KULeuven
REPEAT
A mathematical model that reliably predicts the energy performance of buildings and allows the implementation of optimal predictive control strategies.
Summary
The Repeat project aims to characterize the effective performance of buildings in a reliable way, and to adopt predictive control strategies to improve energy performance, while maintaining the comfort level of occupants.
The correct operation of an installation saves between 10 and 30% of its energy consumption. These potential savings should be achieved, by maintaining or increasing the comfort level of the occupants. A mathematical model of the behavior of a building is validated. It makes it possible to verify the correct behavior of the installation, and to implement predictive regulation strategies (according to weather and occupancy forecasts ).
Monitoring the behavior of the installation involves generating alerts in the event of comfort deficiency, or in the event of drift in the behavior of a component. The implementation of predictive control requires simulating their effect on an appropriate model and validating this effect by comparison with conditions where they are not implemented. Improving comfort and raising occupant awareness have a beneficial effect on their support for the energy transition process.
Planning:
1/2024 - 12/2025
Architecture et Climat:
Promotor: Sergio Altomonte
Funding by
Service public de Wallonie Économie Emploi Recherche – Appel Win2Wal 2023
Partners:
Bureau Greisch (partenaire industriel)
CECOTEPE (Centre de Coopération Technique et Pédagogique)