Energy and Cost Analysis of Adapting an Existing Building to 2017 Technical Requirements and Requirements for NZEB

Abstract

Energy efficiency is a very important factor in the Building sector. Building sector consumes about 40% of the world total energy. At present, new buildings in Poland and other European countries are designed according to very strict requirements. The problem arises when we take into consideration large number of the existing buildings. These buildings, especially the ones built in the last century, consume a lot of heating energy. Thermal protection requirements for the existing buildings subjected to thermo-modernization are specified in the technical regulations. Thermal protection requirements for thermo-modernized buildings in different countries are different. In Poland, a thermos-modernized building must meet the requirements for thermal protection of external partitions. In Ukraine, the requirements of thermal protection are modelled on European regulations. In Ukraine’s, thermos-modernized buildings must meet the requirements for thermal protection of external partitions and primary energy requirements. However, in Poland thermo-modernized buildings do not have to meet the requirement for a non-renewable primary energy factor – EP. [kWh/(m2y]. The existing buildings do not always have the option of converting a non-renewable heat source into renewable heat sources. In the article, the authors presented the energy analysis of adapting an existing building to the current technical requirements in Poland (WT 2017) and to the level of requirements for buildings of “almost zero energy consumption NZEB” (WT 2021) and adapting an existing building to the current technical requirements in Ukraine. The analysis was carried out based on thermo-modernization audits carried out for a single-family residential building. The analysed building was built in 80’s in traditional technology. It is a two-story building located in Krakow. The audits considered various options for improving energy efficiency. Financial outlays for each variant will be determined. The authors of the article pointed out that comfort in buildings subjected to thermo-modernization a very important issue. On the example of an existing residential building, the authors analysed how to improve the vibration comfort of use in the rooms of a building.