Application of cooling concepts to European office buildings

A simulation study investigates the potential of different ventilation and cooling strategies with regard to energy efficiency and thermal comfort in different European climates. The results demonstrate a high potential for night-ventilation strategies in the northern European climate with its low ambient air temperatures. In the mid-European climate, water-based low-energy cooling technologies based on radiant cooling make use of the cool ground in summer. Active cooling provides good thermal comfort in the southern European climate, with high and fluctuating cooling loads.