Abstract
Energy retrofitting of the housing stock is a priority in current regulatory standards as a means of reducing energy consumption. The strategies used in retrofitting housing stock ought to respond both to regulatory conditions and to two challenges: specific climate conditions and the improvement of comfort conditions. These issues are especially important in the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, and will be even more so in the future due to climate change. The aim of this paper is to assess the influence that the improvement of facade insulation and the use of ventilation have on the existing housing stock. To do so, an energy evaluation is conducted using on-site monitoring of free-running conditions in test cells reproducing a residential room, both in current condition and with the retrofitted proposal, in Seville (Spain). The results obtained show limited improvement of the facade insulation when outdoor temperatures are high, as well as the influence of ventilation, mainly nocturnal, depending on the ventilation rate and the minimum outdoor temperatures.
Highlights
Nowadays, a large part of housing stock presents obsolete energy conditions, far removed from current energy legislation
Numerous studies have analysed the energy characterization and retrofitting of existing housing stock, mostly in climate areas of central and northern Europe, where one of the main objectives is the significant reduction in energy consumption in winter
Based on the most representative facade type of the pre-energy regulation period of housing stock in the warm Mediterranean area, this paper aims to assess thermal performance and comfort conditions through a strategy for the improvement of the facade, incorporating thermal insulation— an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS)—combined with ventilation actions
Summary
A large part of housing stock presents obsolete energy conditions, far removed from current energy legislation. This leads to deficiencies in indoor thermal conditions and situations of energy poverty. Previous research has mainly focused on verifying the energy standards in energy consumption [3]; measuring consumption in real use conditions [4]; and verifying real consumption against estimated consumption. These factors result in a considerable gap in performance [5] and a rebound effect [6], mostly due to occupants’ behaviour
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