Abstract
This work evaluates the potential for the reduction of energy demand in residential buildings by acting on the exterior envelope, both in newly constructed buildings and in the retrofitting of existing stock. It focuses on analysing social housing buildings in Mediterranean areas and on quantifying the scope of that reduction in the application of different envelope design strategies, with the purpose of prioritizing their application based on their energy efficiency. The analyses and quantifications were made by means of the generation of energy models with the TRNSYS tool for simple or combined solutions, identifying possible potentials for reduction of the energy demand from 20% to 25%, basically by acting on the windows. The case study was a newly built social housing building of a closed block type located in Seville (Spain). Its constructive techniques and the insulation level of its envelope are standardized for current buildings widespread across Mediterranean Europe.
Highlights
Social housing represents a significant proportion of the residential building stock of Southern
The most effective way to reduce energy consumption associated to indoor thermal comfort is by means of control of the energy demand associated with the transfers through the envelope; by acting on the elements which constitute the exterior-interior exchange system
With the results obtained from the previous series, two proposals were made that combined the passive strategies for façades, roofs and windows which produced greater reductions of the energy demand: the roof solution r1, the window solution w4 and, in the case of the façades, two solutions were taken from the F3 series, that is to say, with transmittances (U = 0.38 W/m2K) that were less than half of those for the façade in the present state (U = 0.82 W/m2K)
Summary
Social housing represents a significant proportion of the residential building stock of Southern. The most effective way to reduce energy consumption associated to indoor thermal comfort is by means of control of the energy demand associated with the transfers through the envelope; by acting on the elements which constitute the exterior-interior exchange system This intervention can be approached in two ways: the efficient construction of new buildings and the energy retrofitting of existing residential buildings: a field of action that presents great potential for energy savings due to the importance of the housing stock built over the last 50 years that remains in use. Reviewed different envelope components, such as exterior claddings, openings (windows and doors), roofs, thermal insulators, thermal mass, infiltration and air-tightness, commenting on their general characteristics and the means for their evaluation, and the most frequently used energy simulation programs This current work forms part of a research project funded in part by the Technological Corporation of Andalusia, an institution belonging to the regional government of Andalusia. (a) Site plan; (b) South-west view; (c) West-north view
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