The challenge of introducing an exergy indicator in a local law on energy

Extending the exergy concept to practitioners and policy makers is still a major challenge. Recently the “Canton of Geneva” in Switzerland introduced a new law governing the procedures of attribution of building permits for new or retrofitted city areas. Authorities were asked to define a procedure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy (Oxford) 2008-02, Vol.33 (2), p.130-136
Main Authors: Favrat, D., Marechal, F., Epelly, O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Efficiency
Energy
Energy economics
Energy law
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Exergy
General, economic and professional studies
General. Regulations
Heating and cooling services
Heating, air conditioning and ventilation
Methodology. Modelling
Second law
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Summary:Extending the exergy concept to practitioners and policy makers is still a major challenge. Recently the “Canton of Geneva” in Switzerland introduced a new law governing the procedures of attribution of building permits for new or retrofitted city areas. Authorities were asked to define a procedure including the calculation of an exergy indicator to be quantified in each file concerning large projects submitted for acceptance. This paper summarizes the problem definition, a clarification of the limits expected from the exergy indicator as well as the spreadsheet tool and the tables used to facilitate this quantification both for heating and air conditioning. For simplification the overall system was divided into a superstructure formed by four subsystems including the room convector, the plant of the building, a possible district heating and cooling plant and an external power plant. Three temperature ranges were considered for the building distribution networks both in heating and cooling. Ten different technology combinations were considered ranking from the lowest heating exergy efficiency with nuclear electricity and joule heating to the best efficiency with hydroelectricity and District heating electric heat pumps using lake water.
ISSN:0360-5442
DOI:10.1016/j.energy.2007.10.012