Energy efficiency in modular emergency shelters: Impact of envelope finishings and shadowing

Abstract

In emergencies, ensuring rapid access to temporary housing for displaced individuals is a cornerstone of effective disaster response. Managing the issue time-effectively is crucial for addressing the immediate physical needs of the population and fostering a sense of stability. Unfortunately, given the vast scale of emergency camps, the number of shelters to be installed is often very high, requiring rapid transport and assembly for the success of settlement procedures. Furthermore, emergencies frequently occur in environments with extreme outdoor climates, heightening the challenge of maintaining indoor comfort within shelters. The present study considers a modular shelter based on composite sandwich panels made of glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) filled with a polyurethane (PUR) foam thermal insulation core. Experimental tests and numerical analyses are used to quantify the thermal conductivity of the panels and the heat losses through the panels' connections, respectively. Dynamic energy simulations are implemented accounting for the aforementioned data and used to quantify the energy required to ensure users' thermal comfort via active heating and cooling systems. Further, the model is applied to evaluate the influence of envelope finishes and shading devices in reducing the shelter's energy demands in three extreme climates. Results indicate that the combination of shading and reflective finishes can lead to significant energy demand reductions, decreasing the need for thermal insulation and, therefore, reducing the overall weight of the shelter. Finally, it is observed that in climates where cooling demands are dominant, passive strategies can achieve energy savings that thermal insulation alone cannot attain.