Escuela de Politécnica Superior

As a primary goal, Inadequate energy consumption and outdated construction systems are causing financial losses for homeowners. Spain’s failure to meet European guidelines on CO2 emissions highlights the urgent need to address the energy inefficiency of buildings, responsible for 40% of such emissions. This article presents a comprehensive refurbishment project undertaken in the Lagos Park residential building in Madrid. The paper offers a detailed analysis of common building issues related to excessive humidity in the surrounding areas and deficiencies in the energy performance of the building envelope, including facades and roofs. Precise measures for achieving compliance with the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE), as well as enhancing energy efficiency and functionality, are explained through the renovation of the building envelopes. The study also encompasses improvements made to the domestic hot water supply systems and the air-conditioning system, which contribute to the building’s attainment of an optimal energy rating (energy Class A). The extensive renovation undertaken in the complex has transformed Lagos Park homes into “zero energy consumption” residences. The strategies employed, ranging from electrical appliances to the house’s structural design, are all geared towards maximizing energy usage efficiency, resulting in significantly reduced monthly electricity bills by 65%–75%.

Getting a healthy and comfortable indoor environment in homes in southern Europe is a complicated task. In continental climates, with very cold temperatures in winter and very hot in summer, energy consumption greatly increases with air conditioning significant spending. To propose action guidelines for use of natural ventilation and to develop effective design strategies is essential. Therefore, and given a specific building type block of flats in Madrid, this article focuses on establishing what periods of the year natural ventilation is required to reduce energy consumption in air conditioning, also considering the quality of the outdoor environment and the design of the building. To develop this, a statistical study of the chosen type, that allows studying the direction and the wind speed in the area, is performed. Analysis of wind pressures in holes in the facade is performed by means of numerical simulations of fluid flow (CFD) inside to later infer in the natural ventilation rate required within policy parameters. With the data obtained, a study of energy saving is made as a function of natural ventilation rate established for the building type.

Utilization of the energy obtained through the recreational use of the leisure zones by means of human-powered traction using mini-bike pedals as a renewable source intended to produce accumulative energy. Energy is generated through the physical and sporty activity of pedalling. Such energy is subsequently accumulated in batteries using two alternators for its later use transforming it into environmental conditioning and lighting. A system capable of transforming physical exercise into power generation intended for lighting, artificial shade, and coolness is proposed. This system provides a solution to obtain artificial shade and coolness by means of the nebulization of water vapour in environments of hard urbanism, which allows humanizing the city through a participative citizen action. Such nebulization is obtained through the process of transforming the human renewable source of pedaling into energy for environmental conditioning and hygrothermal comfort through a bioclimatic strategy. A study is carried out in order to analyse the bioclimatic conditions of the environment in order to create urban facilities, which guarantee optimal habitability conditions by taking advantage of those factors, which provide quality of life and social development, such as environmental aesthetics, level of environmental stress, pedestrian areas, and leisure zones, among others. In the recent past years, the design of urban facilities, which encourage social relations and a healthy life, is in increasing evolution referring to the first designs installed in the parks and gardens of the cities. However, nowadays there is not system capable of integrating more significantly physical exercise and power generation intended for lighting, artificial shade, and coolness.