Building Energy Assessment and Computer Simulation Applied to Social Housing in Spain

Juan Aranda,Sabina Scarpellini,Eva Llera-Sastresa,Ignacio Zabalza,Alfonso Alcalde

doi:10.3390/buildings8010011

Juan Aranda, Sabina Scarpellini + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8010011

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Abstract

The actual energy consumption and simulated energy performance of a building usually differ. This gap widens in social housing, owing to the characteristics of these buildings and the consumption patterns of economically vulnerable households affected by energy poverty. The aim of this work is to characterise the energy poverty of the households that are representative of those residing in social housing, specifically in blocks of apartments in Southern Europe. The main variables that affect energy consumption and costs are analysed, and the models developed for software energy-performance simulations (which are applied to predict energy consumption in social housing) are validated against actual energy-consumption values. The results demonstrate that this type of household usually lives in surroundings at a temperature below the average thermal comfort level. We have taken into account that a standard thermal comfort level may lead to significant differences between computer-aided energy building simulation and actual consumption data (which are 40–140% lower than simulated consumption). This fact is of integral importance, as we use computer simulation to predict building energy performance in social housing.

Highlights

For most EU member states, there is a general consensus nowadays that energy poverty in households is a top priority which should be addressed to avoid social exclusion
The definition provided by the International Energy Agency (IEA) is very similar to that adopted by the Environmental Sciences Association (ACA) in a pioneering Spanish publications [7]
Public social housing, which constitutes a proportion of the total social housing stock [40] is well maintained and managed by the public small proportion of the total social housing stock [40] is well maintained and managed by the public authorities; there is no evidence that private social housing undergoes regular authorities; there is no evidence that private social housing undergoes regular maintenance or building upgrades owing to the low rent of this type of housing

Summary

Introduction

For most EU member states, there is a general consensus nowadays that energy poverty in households is a top priority which should be addressed to avoid social exclusion. This issue has been tackled by ensuring that most citizens can access energy at stable and affordable prices [1]. The issue of energy poverty is more severe in Southern and Eastern Europe [3]. Despite more favourable climatic conditions in Southern Europe, 16.6% of households in the Mediterranean region live in conditions characterised by poor thermal comfort; in contrast, the European average is 4% lower [4]. The definition provided by the International Energy Agency (IEA) is very similar to that adopted by the Environmental Sciences Association (ACA) in a pioneering Spanish publications [7]

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