CASE-STUDY ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE LARGE-PANEL APARTMENT BUILDING AT PRE- AND POST LOW-BUDGET ENERGY-RENOVATION

Kalle Kuusk,Simo Ilomets,Alo Mikola,Targo Kalamees,Siim Link

doi:10.3846/13923730.2014.975741

Kalle Kuusk, Simo Ilomets + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2014.975741

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Abstract

The paper presents a case study analysis of low-budget renovation of a typical concrete large-panel apartment building. Focus is on the measurements and analyses of energy consumption, indoor climate, CO2 concentration, air leakage rate, thermal transmittance of thermal bridges, and thermal transmittance of the building envelope before and after the renovation. Results indicate that the renovation project was generally successful, with delivered energy need decreasing by 40% and heating energy need decreasing by 50%. However, some key problems need to be solved to achieve full energy efficiency potential of the renovation works. Those critical problems are the performance (thermal comfort, heat recovery) of ventilation systems, thermal bridges of external wall/window jamb and economic viability. Currently, a major renovation is not economically viable, therefore financial assistance to the apartment owners’ associations is required to encourage them to undertake major renovations.

Highlights

It is estimated (Economidou et al 2011) that there is 25 billion m2 of useful floor space in the EU27, Switzerland and Norway
A study conducted in Vilnius showed that relative heat consumption data in the prefabricated concrete large-panel apartment buildings vary more in the 1960s than in the 1970s, which indicates an increase in the quality of construction works as designing and building crews gained more experience (Juodis et al 2009)
Selected building type is widespread in Estonia, accounting for 48% of the total surface area of the prefabricated concrete large panel apartment buildings and 17% of the total surface area of all apartment buildings

Summary

Introduction

It is estimated (Economidou et al 2011) that there is 25 billion m2 of useful floor space in the EU27, Switzerland and Norway. Data on typical heating consumption levels of the existing buildings by age show that the largest energy saving potential is associated with older buildings where in some cases buildings from the 1960s are worse than buildings from earlier decades. The impact of poorly insulated 1960s buildings on the building stock energy consumption was amplified by the large boom in construction in 1961–1990 when the housing stock more than doubled. A study conducted in Vilnius showed that relative heat consumption data in the prefabricated concrete large-panel apartment buildings vary more in the 1960s than in the 1970s, which indicates an increase in the quality of construction works as designing and building crews gained more experience (Juodis et al 2009). Retrofitting of the existing housing stock is crucial as the environmental impact from new buildings is negligible compared to the impact from existing buildings (Uihlein, Eder 2010)

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