Abstract
Language | English |
---|---|
Pages | 167-175 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Nov 2016 |
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Keywords
- exergy
- spontaneous processes
- buildings
- irreversibility
- low-cost
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The irreversible evolution of buildings. / Bonetti, V.; Robazza, P.
In: International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics, Vol. 12, No. 2, 21.11.2016, p. 167-175.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The irreversible evolution of buildings
AU - Bonetti, V.
AU - Robazza, P.
PY - 2016/11/21
Y1 - 2016/11/21
N2 - Buildings, which are in fact ecosystems (living and inanimate organisms interacting together), are nowadays conceived and operated on the base of energy assessments underpinned by the first law of thermodynamics, and design strategies work towards energy conservation. Different approaches, based on the second law of thermodynamics, exist in research; they use the thermodynamic function called exergy - a measure of energy quality obtained from the combination of first and second law - and their scope is still centred on conservation strategies, optimised through irreversibility reduction. However, irreversibility plays a key role in nature, as entropy production dictates direction and modality of all processes and real phenomena are actually irreversible. The main problem related to the forefront of high-efficiency buildings is their high cost and complexity, which contrast stridently with the needs of the largest part of the built environment: effective low-budget sustainable solutions, easy to raise and control by non-specialised users. This research, through a pragmatic methodology, mixes practical experiences from low-budget construction sites with concepts from the relatively new discipline of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and proposes an alternative energy design approach based on the second law of thermodynamics. Thinking of buildings as evolving ecosystems, their ability to perceive and exploit useful gradients can be enhanced through a deeper understanding of the role of irreversibility as the driving force of spontaneous processes, and imperfection as an intrinsic characteristic of architecture.
AB - Buildings, which are in fact ecosystems (living and inanimate organisms interacting together), are nowadays conceived and operated on the base of energy assessments underpinned by the first law of thermodynamics, and design strategies work towards energy conservation. Different approaches, based on the second law of thermodynamics, exist in research; they use the thermodynamic function called exergy - a measure of energy quality obtained from the combination of first and second law - and their scope is still centred on conservation strategies, optimised through irreversibility reduction. However, irreversibility plays a key role in nature, as entropy production dictates direction and modality of all processes and real phenomena are actually irreversible. The main problem related to the forefront of high-efficiency buildings is their high cost and complexity, which contrast stridently with the needs of the largest part of the built environment: effective low-budget sustainable solutions, easy to raise and control by non-specialised users. This research, through a pragmatic methodology, mixes practical experiences from low-budget construction sites with concepts from the relatively new discipline of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and proposes an alternative energy design approach based on the second law of thermodynamics. Thinking of buildings as evolving ecosystems, their ability to perceive and exploit useful gradients can be enhanced through a deeper understanding of the role of irreversibility as the driving force of spontaneous processes, and imperfection as an intrinsic characteristic of architecture.
KW - exergy
KW - spontaneous processes
KW - buildings
KW - irreversibility
KW - low-cost
UR - http://www.witpress.com/journals/dne
U2 - 10.2495/DNE-V12-N2-167-175
DO - 10.2495/DNE-V12-N2-167-175
M3 - Article
VL - 12
SP - 167
EP - 175
JO - International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics
T2 - International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics
JF - International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics
SN - 1755-7437
IS - 2
ER -