How to improve the thermal performance of buildings with one simulation run? The heat exchange index applied to hot climates

Abstract

Improvements in the thermal and energy performance of buildings usually involves techniques with high computational costs, such as multi-objective optimization and parametric simulation. However, sometimes, achieving the optimal case is not desirable, though only the refinement of thermal performance. Hence, methods that enable this analysis are helpful for designers and researchers. Then, this study proposed a framework based on the Heat Exchange Index to assist thermal performance analysis of buildings. The framework consists of two phases and begins by exploring air and surface heat balance derived from the base case building simulation. This analysis is based on the Heat Exchange Index, an index developed in this work, and its result indicates the impact of each heat exchange on the thermal performance. The next phase is the improvement, where strategies are defined and implemented, and the thermal performance of the improved case is evaluated against the base case. A single-family house was modeled using EnergyPlus to demonstrate the framework application. Results showed that the Heat Exchange Index could be used to enhance the thermal performance of buildings since the strategies adopted in the base case increased its thermal autonomy and decreased thermal load.