Abstract
Currently, such topics as improvement of energy efficiency of buildings and energy systems, development of sustainable building concepts, and promotion of renewable energy sources are in the focus of attention. The energy efficiency targets of the European Union are based on information regarding energy consumed by buildings. The amount of energy consumed by buildings depends on the main influencing factors (namely, climate parameters, building envelope, energy systems, building operation and maintenance, activities and behaviour of occupants), which have to be considered in order to identify energy efficiency potentials and opportunities. The article aims to investigate the total amount of energy consumed by a low energy house, built in Lithuania, using a combination of energy consumption data received from a simulation and measured energy consumption data. The energy performance analysis in the low energy house revealed some factors that have the main influence on the total figures of energy consumed by the house. The identified significant factors were used to find the optimal solutions for the design of low energy buildings.
Highlights
Buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the European Union (European Parliament and Council 2010)
This paper describes the existing low energy house, built in Vilnius, presents the simulated and monitored energy performance of the house and discusses the critical factors, which have the main influence to the total energy consumption of the house
In order to make sure that the essential characteristics of the house and its energy system are adequately represented in the model and the thermal properties of the house can be simulated with sufficient accuracy, the model was validated with measured data from 2 October 2010 to 30 April 2011
Summary
Buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the European Union (European Parliament and Council 2010). The sector is expanding, which is bound to increase its energy consumption. The reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings sector is a common target in energy and environmental policies in the European Union. The new generation buildings − namely, a low energy building, a passive house, a nearly zero energy building with a very high energy performance and a significant share of energy supply from renewable energy sources − reduce the demand for the operating energy (Engelund Thomsen et al 2008). The reduction of the demand for the operating energy is achieved by increased use of passive and active technologies (Sartori, Hestnes 2007). Passive technologies include increased insulation, better performing windows, reduction of air infiltration losses, and heat recovery from ventilation air. Active technologies include heat pumps coupled with air or ground/water heat sources, solar thermal collectors, solar photovoltaic panels and biomass boilers
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