scholarly journals Effect of insulation on indoor thermal comfort in a detached house with a floor heating system

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 02049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianwen Guo ◽  
Ryozo Ooka ◽  
Wonseok Oh ◽  
Wonjun Choi ◽  
Doyun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Detached House ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Floor Heating ◽  
Floor Temperature

Appropriate insulation materials, with unique physical properties and of moderate thickness, are essential for energy savings in residential buildings. However, the impact of thermal insulation on indoor thermal comfort with floor heating systems has not been studied extensively. In this study, simulations of a typical Japanese detached house were conducted with four different thicknesses of insulation material in the walls, ceiling, and floor to estimate the mean air temperature (MAT), mean radiant temperature (MRT), floor temperature, predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD). The results showed that increasing the thickness of thermal insulation increased the MAT and MRT by 1.4 – 4.0 ℃ and 1.3 – 4.4 ℃, respectively. Moreover, as the thickness of the thermal insulation increased, the floor temperature rose and exhibited smaller fluctuations. Finally, it was found that increasing the thickness of thermal insulation improved the indoor thermal comfort environment, as evidenced by an increase in the PMV from –1.0 to 0.3, and a decrease in the PPD from 25.1% to 9.5%.

scholarly journals Upgrading the Smartness of Retrofitting Packages towards Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in Cold Climate Countries: Two Case Studies

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurina C. Felius ◽  
Mohamed Hamdy ◽  
Fredrik Dessen ◽  
Bozena Dorota Hrynyszyn
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Heat Losses ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
The Impact

Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings by implementing building automation control strategies (BACS) besides building envelope and energy system retrofitting has been recommended by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018. This paper investigated this recommendation by conducting a simulation-based optimization to explore cost-effective retrofitting combinations of building envelope, energy systems and BACS measures in-line with automation standard EN 15232. Two cases (i.e., a typical single-family house and apartment block) were modeled and simulated using IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA-ICE). The built-in optimization tool, GenOpt, was used to minimize energy consumption as the single objective function. The associated difference in life cycle cost, compared to the reference design, was calculated for each optimization iteration. Thermal comfort of the optimized solutions was assessed to verify the thermal comfort acceptability. Installing an air source heat pump had a greater energy-saving potential than reducing heat losses through the building envelope. Implementing BACS achieved cost-effective energy savings up to 24%. Energy savings up to 57% were estimated when BACS was combined with the other retrofitting measures. Particularly for compact buildings, where the potential of reducing heat losses through the envelope is limited, the impact of BACS increased. BACS also improved the thermal comfort.

scholarly journals Building-Information-Modelling-Based Thermal-Energy Performance Evaluation of Silica-Aerogel-Incorporated Rigid Board Roof Insulation Material for Residential Buildings in the Tropical Climate of Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 945 (1) ◽  
pp. 012066
Author(s):  
Nadzhratul Husna ◽  
Syed Ahmad Farhan ◽  
Mohamed Mubarak Abdul Wahab ◽  
Nasir Shafiq ◽  
Muhammad Taufiq Sharif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Silica Aerogel ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Building Information

Abstract Malaysia is located in the equator, with a hot and humid climate. The highest temperature recorded during the day was 39 °C, which leads to discomfort among building occupants, in particular, residential buildings, where indoor thermal comfort is of a higher priority compared to other types of buildings. Hence, the thermal performance of the residential roof assembly needs to be improved to lower the indoor temperature and, accordingly, maintain the level of indoor thermal comfort. In view of the need to improve the thermal performance, a silica-aerogel-incorporated rigid board roof insulation material for residential buildings was developed using kapok fibre, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and silica aerogel. The thermal conductivity of the material was measured. The sample with 4 wt. % and 5 wt. % of silica aerogel content obtained the lowest thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mK. Silica aerogel content of above 4 wt. % did not result in further reduction of the thermal conductivity. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimum silica aerogel content for the sample was 4 wt. %. Building-Information-Modelling (BIM)based thermal-energy performance evaluation of the material was performed by generating temperature and cooling load data using Integrated Environmental Solution-Virtual Environment to validate the thermal-energy performance of the material, by installing the material within the roof assembly of a residential BIM. Findings indicate that the material can potentially be employed in the future as a roof insulation material to maintain the level of indoor thermal comfort among residential building occupants.

The Impact of Different Green Roofs Strategies on the Indoor Thermal Comfort with Special Reference to Cairo-Egypt

2014 ◽  
Vol 935 ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samar Mohamed Sheweka ◽  
Nourhan Magdy
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
The Impact

In present time, the environmental impact of green buildings on inner and outer climate has becomes more apparent. Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. Recently, the popularity of green roof is growing in the context of urban landscaping because of its smaller footprint, aesthetic value, insulation benefits and heat island mitigation impact. Greenery roofs are considered to be a part of new technology that allows the use of alternative vegetation. This paper will explore the potentials of using green roofs as an integral part of the building process to save energy. This paper will introduce the energy crisis and will focus on the current crisis in Egypt and the global UHI effect. It will also identify the impact of vegetation as a sustainable approach for UHI mitigation and energy savings. After addressing green roof types, and their functional, and environmental aspects in general. The paper distills these different types to enhance thermal performance in terms of indoor thermal comfort and energy savings with the integration of PV cells within green roof design. This will be empirically examined by DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Simulation, to explore the possibilities of improving indoor thermal comfort within the studied types. Then the paper will be concluded by a set of recommendations for buildings within Egypt’s climatic settings.

Investigating the Impact of Ornamental Plants Correlated with Indoor Thermal Comfort and Eco-Energy

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Sugiono Sugiono ◽  
Suluh E. Swara ◽  
Wisnu Wijanarko ◽  
Dwi H. Sulistyarini
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Impacts on Indoor Thermal Comfort and Heating Energy Use in Hellenic Dwellings from Occupant Behavioral Reactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6254
Author(s):  
Elena G. Dascalaki ◽  
Constantinos A. Balaras
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Local Heating ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Audits

In an effort to reduce the operational cost of their dwellings, occupants may even have to sacrifice their indoor thermal comfort conditions. Following the economic recession in Greece over recent years, homeowners have been forced to adapt their practices by shortening heating hours, lowering the indoor thermostat settings, isolating spaces that are not heated or even turning off their central heating system and using alternative local heating systems. This paper presents the results from over 100 occupant surveys using questionnaires and walk-through energy audits in Hellenic households that documented how occupants operated the heating systems in their dwellings and the resulting indoor thermal comfort conditions and actual energy use. The results indicate that the perceived winter thermal comfort conditions were satisfactory in only half of the dwellings, since the actual operating space heating periods averaged only 5 h (compared with the assumed 18 h in standard conditions), while less than half heated their entire dwellings and only a fifth maintained an indoor setpoint temperature of 20 °C, corresponding to standard comfort conditions. Mainstream energy conservation measures include system maintenance, switching to more efficient systems, reducing heat losses and installing controls. This information is then used to derive empirical adaptation factors for bridging the gap between the calculated and actual energy use, making more realistic estimates of the expected energy savings following building renovations, setting prudent targets for energy efficiency and developing effective plans toward a decarbonized building stock.

scholarly journals Energy Performance Assessment of Innovative Building Solutions Coming from Construction and Demolition Waste Materials

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1226
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fraga-De Cal ◽  
Antonio Garrido-Marijuan ◽  
Olaia Eguiarte ◽  
Beñat Arregi ◽  
Ander Romero-Amorrortu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Demolition Waste ◽  
The Impact

Prefabricated solutions incorporating thermal insulation are increasingly adopted as an energy conservation measure for building renovation. The InnoWEE European project developed three technologies from Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) materials through a manufacturing process that supports the circular economy strategy of the European Union. Two of them consisted of geopolymer panels incorporated into an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) and a ventilated façade. This study evaluates their thermal performance by means of monitoring data from three pilot case studies in Greece, Italy, and Romania, and calibrated building simulation models enabling the reliable prediction of energy savings in different climates and use scenarios. Results showed a reduction in energy demand for all demo buildings, with annual energy savings up to 25% after placing the novel insulation solutions. However, savings are highly dependent on weather conditions since the panels affect cooling and heating loads differently. Finally, a parametric assessment is performed to assess the impact of insulation thickness through an energy performance prediction and a cash flow analysis.

scholarly journals Energy Saving Potential of Radiant Floor Heating Assisted by an Air Source Heat Pump in Residential Buildings

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1321
Author(s):  
Yu-Jin Hwang ◽  
Jae-Weon Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Energy Saving ◽  
Heat Pump ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Air Source Heat Pump ◽  
Heating Capacity ◽  
Heating Loads ◽  
Radiant Floor Heating ◽  
Floor Heating ◽  
Floor Temperature

The objective of this research is to establish an appropriate operating strategy for a radiant floor heating system that additionally has an air source heat pump for providing convective air heating separately, leading to heating energy saving and thermal comfort in residential buildings. To determine the appropriate optimal operating ratio of each system taking charge of combined heating systems, the energy consumption of the entire system was drawn, and the adaptive floor surface temperature was reviewed based on international standards and literature on thermal comfort. For processing heating loads with radiant floor heating and air source heating systems, the heating capacity of radiant floor heating by 1 °C variation in floor temperature was calculated, and the remaining heating load was handled by the heating capacity of the convective air heating heat pump. Consequently, when the floor temperature was 25 °C, all heating loads were removed by radiant floor heating only. When handling all heating loads with the heat pump, 59.2% less energy was used compared with radiant floor heating only. Considering the local discomfort of the soles of the feet, the floor temperature is expected to be suitable at 22–23 °C, and 31.5–37.6% energy saving compared with those of radiant floor heating alone were confirmed.

scholarly journals Field Study Of A Radiant Heating System For Sleep Thermal Comfort And Potential Energy Saving

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. K. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Heating System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiant Temperature

As sleep is unconscious, the traditional definition of thermal comfort with conscious judgment does not apply. In this thesis sleep thermal comfort is defined as the thermal condition which enables sleep to most efficiently rejuvenate the body and mind. A comfort model was developed to stimulate the respective thermal environment required to achieve the desired body thermal conditions and a new infrared sphere method was developed to measure mean radiant temperature. Existing heating conditions according to building code conditions during sleeping hours was calculated to likely overheat a sleeping person and allowed energy saving potential by reducing nighttime heating set points. Experimenting with existing radiantly and forced air heated residential buildings, it was confirmed that thermal environment was too hot for comfortable sleep and that the infrared sphere method shows promise. With the site data, potential energy savings were calculated and around 10% of energy consumption reduction may be achieved during peak heating.

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