scholarly journals Identification of the Building Envelope Performance of a Residential Building: A Case Study

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2469
Author(s):  
Evi Lambie ◽  
Dirk Saelens
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchange ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Calculation Methods ◽  
Characterization Methods ◽  
Target Values

Since households are one of the most energy-intensive sectors in Europe, retrofit of dwellings is promoted to increase energy efficiency. Recent research, however, shows that the energy performance after retrofit does not always meet the target values, which can be caused by amongst other things, a deviating building envelope performance. This paper compares the theoretical and measured building envelope performance for a real-life case study in post-retrofit state, in order to illustrate the limitations of calculation methods and characterization models. First, the performance is evaluated on building scale by verifying the correspondence between the default theoretical heat loss coefficient (HLC) and the measured HLC, which was determined by following the guidelines formulated within IEA EBC Annex 58 and Annex 71. In order to illustrate the limitations of the standard calculation method in real-life conditions, the theoretical variability of the HLC is evaluated, generated by variating infiltration heat losses and heat exchange with neighboring dwellings. Second, the performance is investigated on a component scale by assessing the theoretical and measured thermal resistances, identified from heat flux tests. Additionally, nonhomogeneous assembled components and air leaks are simulated to verify probable causes for the locally varying measured values and to illustrate the limitations of calculations and characterization methods. The results illustrate the limitations of the calculation methods by the assessment of the strong variability of the theoretical HLC, depending on assumptions regarding infiltration and heat exchange with neighboring dwellings. In addition, component simulations indicated that deficiencies on a component scale could be caused by a nonhomogeneous assembly and air cavity flows of the component. Moreover, a detailed assessment of an unreliable thermal resistance illustrates the limitations of the used characterization method. Finally, a contrast was found between the quite good performance on building scale (15% deviation between the theoretical and measured HLC) and poor performance on a component scale (only one out of nine monitored components met their theoretical target values), which illustrates the complexity of the building envelope performance.

scholarly journals Dependence of measured specific air leakage rate (qE50) on envelope pressure differences and measurement position: a case study in an apartment building in winter conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012229
Author(s):  
P Klõšeiko ◽  
E Arumägi ◽  
J Hallik ◽  
T Kalamees
Keyword(s):  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Apartment Building ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Air Leakage Rate ◽  
Random Nature ◽  
Airtightness Measurement

Abstract Airtightness of the building envelope has become an important component in achieving ever stricter energy performance levels. However, airtightness measurements using blower door method are dependent on choices made by the specialist conducting the tests. One being the assessment of baseline pressure difference inside the building and position of the measurement equipment. Ideally, the test will be conducted without wind and stack effect which could disturb the envelope pressure measurements. Unfortunately, such conditions seldom exist, especially in colder climates. This increases the appeal of conducting apartment-wise measurements over whole-building measurements as it is far easier to comply with the ISO 9972. However, the apartment-wise method has a relatively random nature due to small share of actual building envelope. This paper investigates the effect of using different measurement positions and pressure levels on the airtightness measurement results. A 5-storey 15m tall residential building was used as a case study and measured as a whole and in select apartments. The results show that the variation caused by different choices of pressure levels, measurement positions etc caused relatively low variations and whole-building measurement should be preferred even if not all baseline and pressure level requirements are not met.

scholarly journals Energy Performance of a High-Rise Residential Building Using Fibre-Reinforced Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 4489
Author(s):  
Zakaria Che Muda ◽  
Payam Shafigh ◽  
Norhayati Binti Mahyuddin ◽  
Samad M.E. Sepasgozar ◽  
Salmia Beddu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residential Building ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Lightweight Aggregate ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Lightweight Aggregate Concrete ◽  
Aggregate Concrete ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Passive Design ◽  
Envelope Material

The increasing need for eco-friendly green building and creative passive design technology in response to climatic change and global warming issues will continue. However, the need to preserve and sustain the natural environment is also crucial. A building envelope plays a pivotal role in areas where the greatest heat and energy loss often occur. Investment for the passive design aspect of building envelopes is essential to address CO 2 emission. This research aims to explore the suitability of using integral-monolithic structural insulation fibre-reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) without additional insulation as a building envelope material in a high-rise residential building in the different climatic zones of the world. Polypropylene and steel fibres in different dosages were used in a structural grade expanded clay lightweight aggregate concrete. Physical and thermal properties of fibre reinforced structural LWAC, normal weight concrete (NWC) and bricks were measured in the lab. The Autodesk@Revit-GBS simulation program was implemented to simulate the energy consumption of a 29-storey residential building with shear wall structural system using the proposed fibre-reinforced LWAC materials. Results showed that energy savings between 3.2% and 14.8% were incurred in buildings using the fibre-reinforced LWAC across various climatic regions as compared with traditional NWC and sand-cement brick and clay brick walls. In conclusion, fibre-reinforced LWAC in hot-humid tropical and temperate Mediterranean climates meet the certified Green Building Index (GBI) requirements of less than 150 kW∙h∙m−2. However, in extreme climatic conditions of sub-arctic and hot semi-arid desert climates, a thicker wall or additional insulation is required to meet the certified green building requirements. Hence, the energy-saving measure is influenced largely by the use of fibre-reinforced LWAC as a building envelope material rather than because of building orientation.

scholarly journals Usability of the EPC Tools for the Profitability Calculation of a Retrofitting in a Residential Building

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Gonzalez Caceres ◽  
Muriel Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Energy Regulation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Financial Assessment ◽  
Efficiency Assessment ◽  
Consumption Energy ◽  
Oil Crisis

After the oil crisis in the 70s energy regulation codes were implemented, but a great portion of existing dwellings have not been retrofitted to current requirements. To face this issue several actions were taken in the European Union (EU), among these, the implementation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), which include a Recommendation List of Measures (RLMs) to retrofit buildings. Some concerns exist about the lack of confidence on these recommendations. The main objective of this study is to analyze the usefulness of the EPC, answering if it is possible to deliver a realistic financial assessment about renovation strategies using these tools. The study is based on three indicators: Consumption, energy saving variations and profitability. The study is based on a renovation project case study, where simulations and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) were performed, in order to identify the different results that EPC’s and an energy efficiency assessment could lead to. The results show important differences in all the concepts evaluated.

scholarly journals Energy flexibility in Mediterranean buildings: a case-study in Sicily

2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Ilaria Marotta ◽  
Francesco Guarino ◽  
Maurizio Cellura ◽  
Sonia Longo
Keyword(s):  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Flexible Control ◽  
Emission Signal ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Family House

Since the building sector is responsible for 40% of the world’s electricity demand, it is essential to act on it in order to reduce emissions of climate change gases on a global scale, as expressed also in the latest directive on the energy performance of buildings. A design approach that focuses on the energy flexibility of buildings can contribute to the improvement of its energy-environmental performances. In this context, the objective of the study is the analysis of the energy performance of a residential building in Sicily and the definition of strategies aimed at increasing its energy flexibility. In particular, the case study is a 631 m2 single-family house, modeled and simulated in TRNSYS environment. The approach involves the development of scenarios to reduce operating costs and CO2 emissions during the use phase of the building. Rule Based Control algorithms are implemented. The flexible control reacts to a price or emission signal, by modulating the heating set-point accordingly. The results highlighted significant increases in energy flexibility. The economic algorithm achieves savings of 21.46%, accompanied by a 15% reduction in emissions. The environmental algorithm allows to reduce CO2 emissions by about 30%. The economic impact is positive, with a 17.58% reduction in costs.

scholarly journals Energy Efficient Improvements of Existing Buildings through Building Envelope Upgrade Case Study of High Rise Block of Flats on 76, Boulevard Partizanski Odredi in Karpos IV, Skopje

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-180
Author(s):  
Katerina Petrushevska
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Living Room ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Class B

AIM: This research examines the important issue of energy efficient improvements to the existing building stock through building envelope upgrade. To facilitate this, the energy performance characteristics of the existing building stock were identified with a view to establishing an existing building stock type, where building envelope upgrades can contribute to a higher level of energy efficiency improvements. The literature review along with the selected building precedents was used to establish the best current practice for building envelope upgrades.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Established building precedents and identified best practice for building envelope upgrade, a high rise block of flats was identified and used as a case study, with the current and predicted, following building envelope upgrade, energy performance of the building calculated. This has allowed us to identify the possible energy efficiency improvements for this type of building following the building envelope upgrade. RESULTS: In the projected case, the building with energy class - "D" become class "B". In addition, increased quality of the living room in the attic was enabled. It was possible to obtain a decrease of the heating energy from 130.76 kWh/m²a to 37.73 kWh/m²a or to jump in the class "B" of energetic passport.CONCLUSION: This research contributes to the local implementation of the global agenda for sustainable development, design and construction, and it demonstrates the possible way and level of energy efficiency improvements to the least efficient building stock through existing building envelope upgrade.

scholarly journals Hygrothermal performance of the building envelope with low environmental impact: case of a hemp concrete envelope

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012006
Author(s):  
A Kabore ◽  
W Maref ◽  
C O Plamondon
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Glass Wool ◽  
Mould Growth ◽  
Cement Block ◽  
Hygrothermal Performance ◽  
The City

Abstract This document is a case study of hemp-based materials integrated into the building envelope for African and North American’s applications. The objective is to evaluate the energy performance of hemp concrete for construction in Montreal, Canada, where heating predominates and in Dori, Burkina Faso, where air conditioning predominates. The effect of thermal and hygrothermal comfort of hemp concrete, glass wool, cement block and compressed earth brick walls were simulated to quantify the benefits on overheating during the hottest months for the city of Dori and the risk of mould growth in the walls of the building in winter for the city of Montreal.

scholarly journals Numerical study of the effect of DSF walls geometrical shape on heat transfer

2020 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 01005
Author(s):  
Mohamed Elamine GHEDHAB ◽  
Ikram El ABBASSI ◽  
Rafik ABSI ◽  
Yannick MÉLINGE
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchange ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Geometrical Shape ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Main Component ◽  
Gains And Losses

The building envelope is an important element that influences energy performance, both in terms of gains and losses. Indeed, much research has focused on improving and optimizing this element. The façade represents the main component of the envelope; it plays a crucial role lying in the protection of the internal environment of the building from external climate variations, by providing thermal comfort to its occupants. In order to gain in energy efficiency, a numerical investigation (CFD) on the influence of the geometric shape of façades on heat exchange in the building is carried out in this work. More particularly, the study will be established on double skin façades (DSF) representing the most commonly used facade typology on high-rise buildings. The simulations will be carried out taking into account the climate in Paris region. The first part will be dedicated to the definition of the basic model, which will be considered as a reference case with plan surfaces on the outside and inside of the building. In the second part, the influence of the shape of the external façade on heat exchange will be discussed.

ENHANCING THE DAYLIGHT AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF EXTERNAL SHADING DEVICES IN HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN DENSE URBAN TROPICS

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 87-108
Author(s):  
Nadeeka Jayaweera ◽  
Upendra Rajapaksha ◽  
Inoka Manthilake
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Building Model ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Lighting Energy ◽  
Shading Devices

ABSTRACT This study examines the daylight and energy performance of 27 external shading scenarios in a high-rise residential building in the urban tropics. The cooling energy, daytime lighting energy and the spatial daylight autonomy (sDA) of the building model were simulated in Rhino3D and Grasshopper simulation software. The best performance scenario (vertical and horizontal shading on the twentieth floor, horizontal shading only for the eleventh floor and no shading for the second floor) satisfied 75 sDA(300lx|50) with corresponding annual enery performance of 16%–20% in the cardinal directions. The baseline scenario, which is the current practice of providing balconies on all floors, reduced daylight to less than 75 sDA on the eleventh and second floor, even though it had higher annual enery performance (19%–24%) than the best performance scenario. Application of the design principles to a case study indicated that 58% of the spaces had over 75 sDA for both Baseline and Best performance scenarios, while an increase in enery performance of 1%–3% was found in the Best performance scenario compared to the Baseline.

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