Thermal Monitoring and Simulation of Earthen Buildings. A Review

Ariadna Carrobé,Ingrid Martorell,Lídia Rincón

doi:10.3390/en14082080

Abstract

Since ancient times, raw earth has been used worldwide as a construction material. Today, it is well known for its good environmental properties of recyclability and low embodied energy along the production process. Earthen walls regulate the interior temperature of the buildings, providing comfortable temperatures with a very low carbon footprint. As a result of those advantages, earthen building techniques have been revived and used for contemporary architecture. The aim of this paper is to review the state of the art about the thermal behaviour of earthen building, including all the monitoring and simulation analysis of real earthen constructions up to now. The paper presents the different earthen techniques known nowadays, analysing the most important thermal parameters and the thermal comfort achieved with each technique. Regardless the wide differences among the analyzed cases, the authors conclude that earth building is a suitable solution in hot and arid climates, since it preserves the indoor temperature within the thermal comfort limits most part of the time without any active system.

Highlights

Only the 57 articles directly related with monitoring and simulation thermal comfort have been considered
The results show an indoor cumulative distribution function (CDF) almost vertical, which is typical of buildings with high thermal inertia
The literature review includes a complete list of the earth building techniques, including both traditional and modern

Summary

Introduction

The pyramids, the classic shrines, the medieval castles, the large Gothic cathedrals, the Baroque and Renaissance palaces, or some skyscrapers in the 20th and 21st centuries are examples of representative architecture which have not paid much attention to the interaction of form and energy, and to the bioclimatic approach, in general [1]. Nowadays some of this architecture requires the constant use of conditioned air or heating systems to achieve thermal comfort. It is proven that in extreme climates, popular architecture has better thermal performance than representative and modern architecture [1]

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Conclusion