Evaluation of Dynamic Insulation Systems for Residential Buildings in Barcelona, Spain

Author(s):  
S. Martínez Garriga ◽  
M. Dabbagh ◽  
M. Krarti

Abstract This paper evaluates the potential energy cost savings when high R-value static insulation layers as well as dynamic insulation materials (DIMs) are applied to residential housing located in Barcelona Spain. The analysis considers three dwelling prototypes to characterize the existing housing stock in Barcelona including detached attached and apartments. In addition three vintages for each housing prototype are defined: before 1979 when building envelope insulation took effect in Spain between 1980 and 2006 and after 2006 when the building envelope insulation code became more restrictive. Using a modified 3R2C network model to determine thermal loads the performance of both static and dynamic insulation systems is evaluated when applied to exterior wall for various housing prototypes in Barcelona. The dynamic insulation R-value is selected based on a 2-step control strategy. The analysis results indicate that DIMs with the largest R-value step (i.e. difference between the high and the low R-values) achieve the highest savings in source energy reaching up to 19% reduction in source heating and cooling energy for the entire housing stock of Barcelona. The annual energy savings achieved by DIMs are valued to be 181 M€/year for the entire existing housing stock in Barcelona. In addition electrical peak demand reduction associated with retrofitting exterior walls for the existing Barcelona housing stock can result in future avoidance of building new power plants and can provide additional 144 M€ and 162 M€ for respectively static and dynamic insulation systems. Considering the current energy mix applying dynamic wall insulation systems for Barcelona existing housing stock could reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 300 000 tons or 6.80% of the total carbon dioxide currently emitted to heat and cool homes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10119
Author(s):  
Darja Kubečková ◽  
Michal Kraus ◽  
Ingrid Juhásová Šenitková ◽  
Magdaléna Vrbová

The current knowledge shows that the interior microclimate of residential buildings that were constructed between 1950 and 1990 using panel construction, not only in the Czech Republic but also in Europe, and were renovated in accordance with applicable legislation related to thermal comfort and energy is significantly affected by gaseous pollutants. At increased concentrations and exposure times, these pollutants negatively affect the interior microclimate and at the same time have a negative effect on the health of users. After the implementation of remediation measures, which are mainly focused on improving the thermal technical parameters of the building envelope, the concentration of CO2 in the indoor environment increases. Carbon dioxide is one of the most important active factors and in terms of the quality of the interior microclimate, it is considered a reliable indicator of whether the interior microclimate can be considered a healthy and favorable environment. It is thus clear that the set and de facto systematized measures in the renovation of the housing stock from the second half of the 20th century has led to energy savings on the one hand, but on the other hand, this has contributed to the hygienic damage of housing units and an unhealthy interior microclimate. The paper aims to define the interaction of interdisciplinary contexts that have led to an increase in the indoor air quality (IAQ) of renovated residential panel buildings.


Author(s):  
Ammar H. A. Dehwah ◽  
Moncef Krarti

Abstract Switchable building envelope systems, including passive and active systems, have recently seen an increase interest in the literature. Unlike static insulation, switchable insulation systems (SISs) have the ability to adjust the thermal properties of envelope elements. Advanced control strategies for SISs are evaluated in this analysis using genetic algorithm-based optimization techniques. In particular, this study investigates the potential heating and cooling energy savings for deploying optimal controls specific to SIS technologies when applied to residential roofs located in representative US climates. Moreover, energy use and peak demand savings obtained by optimal controls are compared with those obtained from the 2-step rule-based controls. Overall, the analysis results indicate that the maximum monthly additional savings obtained by optimal controls can reach up to 32% compared with 2-step rule sets when an annual analysis is conducted for a residential building located in Golden, CO.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-216
Author(s):  
Khadidja El-Bahdja Djebbar ◽  
Souria Salem ◽  
Abderrahmane Mokhtari

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze energy performance of the multi-storey buildings built in the city of Tlemcen between 1872 and 2016. Design/methodology/approach A diagnosis based on a bottom-up methodology, using statistical techniques and engineering, has been developed and applied. To do this, demand condition analysis was conducted using a data collection survey on a sample of 100 case studies. Physical characteristics of the buildings have been determined through the archetype by period. This serves to define the strengths and weaknesses of buildings as energy consumers. Findings The obtained results showed that dwellings built between 1872 and 1920 offer better energy performance with a consumption index close to 130kWh/m2/year and this compared to the five periods considered. For dwellings built between 1974 and 1989, energy consumption is higher with an index approaching 300kWh/m2/year, thus qualifying the buildings of this period as energy intensive. Originality/value A database is established to collect physical information on the existing housing stock and thus allow their classification vis-à-vis of the energy label. This study is part of a research project aimed at evaluating and determining optimal measures for energy rehabilitation of multi-family buildings in Tlemcen. Thermal rehabilitation solutions are proposed using thermal simulations, in the following studies, to improve thermal performance of existing buildings. This study constitutes the first step of a roadmap applicable to other cities constituting climatic zones in Algeria. This helps to enrich the Algerian thermal regulation in thermal rehabilitation of existing residential buildings and conception of new ones, in urban areas with a similar climate.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 6068
Author(s):  
Remy Carlier ◽  
Mohammad Dabbagh ◽  
Moncef Krarti

This paper evaluates the potential energy savings when switchable insulation systems (SIS) are applied to walls of residential buildings located in Belgium and other locations in Europe. The study considers two low-energy prototypical dwellings (an apartment and a detached house) that are representative of post-2010 constructions and renovations in Belgium. Using an 3R2C-based analysis tool, the performance of both dwellings is evaluated with static and dynamic wall insulation systems. First, the switchable insulating system is described along with its associated simple 2-step rule-based control strategy. Then the modeling strategy and simulation analysis tools are presented. In Belgium, it was found that SIS-integrated walls allow energy savings up to 3.7% for space heating and up to 98% for cooling. Moreover, it was found that to further reduce the energy consumption of SIS-integrated buildings in various European climates, thermal mass placement needs to be considered. By optimizing the placement and the parameters of the various wall layers, it is possible to increase the space heating savings by up to a factor of 4 and those of cooling by up to a factor of 2.5.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamalesh Panthi ◽  
Kanchan Das ◽  
Tarek Abdel-Salam

Purpose Vacation rental homes, in general, have different energy usage characteristics than traditional residential homes mainly because of the occupancy pattern that changes on a weekly basis. These homes, predominantly larger in size, offer a greater scope for energy savings also because of the wasteful habits of their seasonal occupants. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of energy inefficiencies prevalent in these homes so that appropriate retrofit choices can be offered to homeowners. Design/methodology/approach This research presents a case study of a vacation rental home whose energy consumption was investigated in depth and energy inefficiencies identified through modeling using energy modeling software, eQUEST. Simulations were performed to identify viable retrofit scenarios. Findings While improvement in the building envelope such as providing shades/overhangs on the windows, reducing infiltration and increasing insulation of the exterior wall did not show promising results for savings on energy cost, other improvements such as use of highly efficient lamps, tank-less water heater system and occupancy sensors showed viable investment options with shorter payback periods. It was also found that energy use intensity of sampled houses was about half of the average of US residential buildings, which could primarily be attributed to the seasonal nature of occupancy of these houses. Originality/value There is a dearth of literature pertaining to energy efficiency-related retrofits of coastal vacation homes. This research fills that gap to some extent by addressing this issue with an ultimate aim of assisting homeowners in retrofit decision-making.


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-347
Author(s):  
A. Życzyńska ◽  
T. Cholewa

Abstract The energy saving tendencies, in reference to residential buildings, can be recently seen in Europe and in the world. Therefore, there are a lot of studies being conducted aiming to find technical solutions in order to improve the energy efficiency of existing, modernized, and also new buildings. However, there are obligatory solutions and requirements, which must be implemented during designing stage of the building envelope and its heating/cooling system. They are gathered in the national regulations. The paper describes the process of raising the energy standard of buildings between 1974–2021 in Poland. Therefore, the objective of this study is to show energy savings, which can be generated by modernization of thermal insulation of partitions of existing buildings and by the use of different ways of heat supply. The calculations are made on the selected multi-family buildings located in Poland, with the assumption of a 15 years payback time. It is shown that it is not possible to cover the costs of the modernization works by the projected savings with the compliance to the assumption of 15 years payback time.


Spatium ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 19-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Krstic-Furundzic ◽  
Vesna Kosoric

Improvement of energy performances of the existing buildings in the suburban settlement Konjarnik in Belgrade, by the application of solar thermal systems is the topic presented in this paper. Hypothetical models of building improvements are created to allow the benefits of applying solar thermal collectors to residential buildings in Belgrade climate conditions to be estimated. This case study presents different design variants of solar thermal collectors integrated into a multifamily building envelope. The following aspects of solar thermal systems integration are analyzed in the paper: energy, architectural, ecological and economic. The results show that in Belgrade climatic conditions significant energy savings and reduction of CO2 emissions can be obtained with the application of solar thermal collectors.


Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurina C. Felius ◽  
Mohamed Hamdy ◽  
Fredrik Dessen ◽  
Bozena Dorota Hrynyszyn

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.


Author(s):  
Niko Kalinic ◽  
Moncef Krarti

Calibrated energy simulations are often used to predict savings from energy conservation measures with little information about their associated prediction uncertainties. In this paper, the savings predicted by calibrated simulation models are compared to actual savings obtained through monitoring energy use before and after implementing selected energy conservation measures for three residential buildings. Both building envelope and HVAC system related energy conservation measures are considered in the study. Through case studies, this validity of using calibrated energy models for the estimation and verification of savings associated with energy conservation measures is thoroughly evaluated. Moreover, the paper provides useful guidelines for using calibrated models for measurement and verification energy savings from various weatherization programs specific to residential buildings.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Mirzhan Kaderzhanov ◽  
Shazim Ali Memon ◽  
Assemgul Saurbayeva ◽  
Jong R. Kim

Nowadays, the residential sector of Kazakhstan accounts for about 30% of the total energy consumption. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the energy estimation model for residential buildings in Kazakhstan so as to reduce energy consumption. This research is aimed to develop the Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) based Building Energy Simulation Model (BESM) for the reduction of energy consumption through the envelope of residential buildings in seven cities of Kazakhstan. A brute force optimization method was adopted to obtain the optimal envelope configuration varying window-to-wall ratio (WWR), the angle of a pitched roof, the depth of the overhang shading system, the thermal conductivity, and the thicknesses of wall composition materials. In addition, orientation-related analyses of the optimized cases were conducted. Finally, the economic evaluation of the base and optimized cases were presented. The results showed that an average energy reduction for heating was 6156.8 kWh, while for cooling it was almost 1912.17 kWh. The heating and cooling energy savings were 16.59% and 16.69%, respectively. The frontage of the building model directed towards the south in the cold season and north in the hot season demonstrated around 21% and 32% of energy reduction, respectively. The energy cost savings varied between 9657 to 119,221 ₸ for heating, 9622 to 36,088 ₸ for cooling.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document