Renovation Of Apartment Buildings Research Articles

Hygrothermal Performance of Prefabricated Insulation Elements for Serial Renovation of Apartment Buildings in a Moderately Continental German Climate

The reduction of energy use in the buildings is expected to be reached by fulfilling several requirements of the low- and nearly-zero energy buildings (nZEB) policy. The improvement of the energy performance of the building envelope and the service systems of the existing buildings offers great potential for energy savings as the annual replacement of the existing stock is only 1 to 2%. The efficient way to accomplish the purpose and global goals of the nZEB is to apply the integrated design process, development, and application of prefabricated insulation elements on a large scale. In this project, in the Berlin area of Germany, prefabricated timber frame insulation elements were designed for the external insulation of the envelope of the apartment building in the serial renovation process, with the thermal transmittance of the external envelope U external-wall = 0.14–0.16 W/(m2·K). In the current study, the potential hygrothermal risks and their effect on highly insulated multi-story apartment building envelope were analyzed. The study contained a set of hygrothermal analyses to ensure the moisture safety of highly insulated facade structures and the selection of materials from the perspective of hygrothermal performance and low risk of degradation. This research found that the risk of mold growth is high if timber elements are installed without protective measures against drying-out built-in moisture, wind-driven rain, and other weather conditions. The initial moisture content of the external concrete slab, to be considered critical, is 90 kg/m3, and the drying out period is longer than the covered with new layers constructions can sustain if a proper vapor control layer is not added between the existing moist wall and installed insulation elements. Furthermore, the wind barrier layer with high thermal resistance and vapor permeability of the installed insulation element helps to minimize the risk of mold growth. A careful analysis and selection of materials allow to design moisture-safe timber frame insulation elements and provide low thermal transmittance of renovated building envelopes. The results showed that before the final design and installation of the insulation elements, a thorough hygrothermal analysis of the original external envelope with actual climatic conditions and moisture loads must be realized.

Circularity concepts for offsite prefabricated energy renovation of apartment buildings

Deep energy renovation includes the realisation of the full potential of energy performance. A circular deep renovation, which contributes to a circular built environment, is based on 100% life cycle renewable energy, and all materials used within the system boundaries are part of infinite technical or biological cycles with the lowest quality loss as possible. In the current study, the circularity potential was assessed for deep energy renovation from different aspects: circularity of materials, building component and building structure. Careful selection of materials as well as connection, position and disassembly possibilities are needed to increase the degree of circularity. This shows a good possibility to increase energy performance by using circularity principles. The window glass circularity analyse showed that, at best, the thermal transmittance of a new circular product can be more than three times lower than the original. The circular use of materials, components, and structures pose new challenges for the building physic design of building envelope structures.

The “rebound effect” of energy efficient actions to be performed as part of a major renovation of apartment buildings

Environmental safety and the rational use of natural resources are among pressing present-day problems. Energy efficiency improvement is an important constituent of energy policies in many countries. This article examines the impact of the “rebound effect” on improving the energy efficiency of environmental safety programs implement-d at federal and municipal levels. There is still no consensus on how to take the “rebound effect” into account and whether it should be considered at all. Paradoxically, the “rebound effect” is the unintended side effect of energy efficiency activities. In this paper, different types of this effect are considered. The “direct assessment” method, based on the non-linear relationship between energy consumption and efficiency, is used to assess the “rebound effect” produced on individual household appliances. The factors hindering the implementation of energy efficiency activities are also identified. Having analyzed the impact of the effect on different sectors of economy, we can conclude that the most pronounced “rebound effect” is observed in the housing sector. Consequently, if we consider a major energy efficient renovation, we have to take account of the “rebound effect” caused by new energy saving activities.

Influence of the Adaptation of Balconies to Loggias on the Lighting Climate inside an Apartment Building under Cloudy Sky

The reconstruction of balconies and loggias is a key element of the renovation of apartment buildings. Artificial light will never replace natural light. Every day, one must make full use of the potential of daylight and enjoy an advantage—free-of-charge natural light entering the interior. When renovating balconies, people often change the character of this protruding structure from a façade to a loggia. This is also the subject of this paper. For the evaluation of the daylighting conditions prevailing in residential building, the Daylight Factor (DF) was considered as the parameter for indicating the quantity of admitted daylight. The DF values and illuminance—CIE overcast sky were calculated using DIALux 9.1 software. The aim of the paper is to compare two variants of the level of daylight in the rooms of the residential building. One option to bring in even more natural light than a window is a variant with balconies. Loggias are satisfactory in terms of static and thermal technology, but daylight conditions are deteriorating. The article provides an insight into the solution of the renovation of balconies and loggias in a specific apartment building. The result shows their influence on changes in the conditions of natural daylight in the interior of two selected rooms.

Public Regulation Evolution of Local Public Goods in the Housing Economy (on the Example of the Major Renovation of Apartment Buildings in Russia)

Residents of an apartment building become participants in situations of local public goods associated with the maintenance and use of common property, including major renovation of common property in the house. The solution of the social dilemmas arising in this case is possible both through the intervention of a third party – the state, and through the self-organization of the participants. The article attempts to trace the evolution of government intervention in the production of local public goods in the housing economy in Russia and to identify the prospects for the further development of government regulation in the field of major renovation of apartment buildings. The empirical basis of the study is the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation that regulate the management of common property in the housing sector since the 1990s. so far, forecasting and analytical documents of the federal and regional level, the activities of state institutions in this area. It was revealed that the declared guidelines of the state housing policy for the development of self-organization of homeowners in apartment buildings did not receive the necessary incentives for real implementation at different time stages. The modern highly centralized system of organizing major renovation of apartment buildings in Russia turned out to be its logical consequence, generating significant financial and material flows of private resources under the direct control and management of the state through a system of regional major renovation funds.

Development and Performance Assessment of Prefabricated Insulation Elements for Deep Energy Renovation of Apartment Buildings

A need for the refurbishment and renewal of the existing building stock has been in focus for many decades, principally because of excessive global energy consumption and pollution. This paper presents a methodology and the results of analysis of choices of realizable sets of timber frame prefabricated insulation elements for major renovation of apartment buildings. Numerous combinations of elements with different characteristics were analyzed by applying measurements, interviews, and building performance simulation software, and thereupon their performance, installation eligibility, and concurrent cost levels were compared. Mineral wool board with a special wind barrier facing was found to be the best material as a wind barrier from the perspective of hygrothermal performance. An air and vapor barrier should have sufficient vapor permeability to allow dry-out of constructional moisture. It is possible to renovate apartment buildings to meet the nZEB energy performance requirements and their moisture safety can be guaranteed without paying high relative difference cost. Calculations showed that the global cost was lower for solutions with some mold growth risk. Great care is needed when decreasing costs without simultaneous hygrothermal analyses. The facade cladding was found to have the highest influence on the initial cost of the prefabricated insulation element.

THE ANALYSIS OF MULTI-APARTMENT HOUSE RENOVATION IN PRIENAI

Seeing as an opportunity to save energy in the housing sector, while improving the country’s image, social life and comfort, the majority of countries around the world are trying to promote and contribute to the renovation of housing, and more specifically to the renovation of apartment buildings. States are developing housing energy-saving programs that are quite complex and involve public authorities, investors, contractors, designers, technicians and residents. It is important that the home renovation program is comprehensive, clear and appealing to homeowners, and depends on the success of the renovation and the extent of the apartment renovation in the country. This article will conduct a multicriteria analysis of the results of the renovation work on five apartment buildings at J. Brundzos St. in Prienai, verify the accuracy of the investment projects, the actual amount of energy saved and the residents views on the renovation process.

How well are energy performance objectives being achieved in renovated apartment buildings in Estonia?

In Estonia, the majority of multi-storey apartment buildings were built during the period between 1960 and 1990. Systematic refurbishment of residential buildings on an energy-efficiency basis began in the 2000s, when the energy performance regulation came into force, although the main reason was to save on energy costs.From 2010, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication fund, KredEx, started supporting the renovation of apartment buildings. A grant scheme which was established in 2015 is related to targeted energy performance certificate classes.In this study, we analyse how well the energy performance targets are being reached following major energy efficiency-related refurbishment work on buildings and how big the performance gap is between measured and calculated energy consumption levels, along with an analysis of the reasons for any differences. The analysis is based on collected energy consumption levels and indoor measurements. In order to analyse heating energy consumption levels, we have constructed simulations of indoor climate and energy use in fifteen renovated apartment buildings.We found that in most cases, the calculated heating energy consumption levels in the design phase were much lower than the measured values have shown. In addition, we discovered that re-simulated values with the same thermal transmittance values are, in most cases, up to 50% larger than heating-related energy consumption levels in the design stage. From this knowledge, we can say that predictions for energy performance levels following refurbishment are too optimistic. For the future, we recommend calculating heating energy consumption levels with the use of a multi-zone simulation tool or by developing a better simplified calculation tool for renovated apartment buildings. In addition, we found out that the reason for heating energy consumption levels being higher following refurbishment work is due to higher indoor temperatures.

Renovation of apartment buildings with prefabricated modular panels

New recast of the EPBD requires that that Member States shall establish a long-term strategy facilitating the cost-effective transformation of existing buildings into nearly-zero energy buildings. Lack of fund and lack of awareness is often considered to be the main barrier for the renovation. Experiences with renovation grant scheme in Estonia showed that large scale renovation scheme is a challenge to the construction industry and increased demand creates new problems like labour shortage and increased construction costs. Current renovation rate of apartment buildings in Estonia is approximately 200 buildings (~1%) per year. Demand is higher but current renovation technologies makes it difficult to significantly increase the renovation rate. Achieving the deep renovation goals with current technologies would require expansion of the whole construction sector (designers, contactors, material industry), which is difficult to achieve. Therefore, innovation and new technologies are needed. The prefabrication would be one solution to allow automation of the renovation process and renovate the existing housing stock within a reasonable time period.

The Influence of Energy Renovation on the Change of Indoor Temperature and Energy Use

The aim of the renovation of apartment buildings is to lower the energy consumption of those buildings, mainly the heating energy consumption. There are few analyses regarding those other energy consumptions which are also related to the primary energy need for calculating the energy efficiency class, including the primary energy need of calculated heating, domestic hot water (DHW), and household electricity. Indoor temperature is directly connected with heating energy consumption, but it is not known yet how much it will change after renovation. One of the research issues relates to the change of electricity and DHW usage after renovation and to the question of whether this change is related to the users’ behavior or to changes to technical solutions. Thirty-five renovated apartment buildings have been analyzed in this study, where the data of indoor temperature, airflow, and energy consumption for DHW with and without circulation and electricity use in apartments and common rooms has been measured. During research, it turned out that the usage of DHW without circulation and the usage of household electricity do not change after renovation. Yet there is a major increase in indoor temperature and DHW energy use in buildings that did not have circulation before the renovation. In addition, a small increase in the use of electricity in common areas was discovered. This study will offer changes in calculations for the energy efficiency number.

Involvement of Individuals in the Development of Technical Solutions and Rules of Management for Building Renovation Projects: A Case Study of Latvia

Abstract In March 2016, the Latvian government approved a new support program for increasing energy efficiency in residential apartment buildings. For the support of renovation of apartment buildings in the period from 2016 to 2023, 166 470 588 EUR will be available. Different persons, such as energy auditors, designers, architects, project managers and builders, will be involved in the process of planning, development and implementation of building renovation. At the development stage of the building renovation project, special attention should be devoted to the first stage – energy audit and technical project development. The problem arises due to the fact that each of these individuals, during the development of technical building documentation, does not work as a completely unified system. The implementation of construction project planning and organisational management system is one of the most important factors to guarantee that the quality of building renovation project is ensured in accordance with the laws and regulatory standards. The paper studies mutual cooperation, professionalism and the role of information feedback of personnel involved in the planning stage of building renovation, which is an essential prerequisite for the renovation process in order to achieve high quality of work and reduce the energy performance indicator. The present research includes the analysis of different technical solutions and their impact on energy efficiency. Mutual harmonisation of technical specifications is also investigated.

Quantification of economic benefits of renovation of apartment buildings as a basis for cost optimal 2030 energy efficiency strategies

As a part of the 2030 energy and climate policy discussion, the Estonian energy roadmap ENMAK 2030+ is being developed to set optimal national targets for 2030. Developing such a national roadmap requires solid evidence of which scenarios with varying ambition can be developed. This study looked at economic benefits, including tax revenue, job generation, and disposable net income per 1M€ of investment, and energy savings on both an individual and national level. In addition, economic quantification for the three scenarios was carried out. The study relied on secondary data collection with validation of the data through a sample analysis and interviews with project stakeholders. The main findings show that in all 17 jobs per 1M€ of investment in renovation were generated per year and direct tax revenue was between 32–33%, depending on the renovation project. Results revealed that over a 20 year period, there are essentially two national energy policy options: both the living quality and asset value brought about by integrated renovation at 160€/m2 or alternatively, that brought about by non-energy efficiency repairs at 31€/m2. The study confirms that investment in energy efficiency is not only environmentally important but provides economic benefits on an individual and government budget level.

Cost effectiveness of energy performance improvements in Estonian brick apartment buildings

Abstract The paper discusses energy renovation measures for brick apartment buildings in Estonia (cold climate). The study analyses the energy usage of brick apartment buildings and simulations for four reference building types selected to represent the brick apartment building stock. Our results show that renovation of old apartment buildings enables the same energy performance requirements as in new apartment buildings to be achieved. Therefore, focus should be on deep renovation of apartment buildings. It is particularly relevant in the context of the EU climate and energy targets for 2020 target. Deep renovation projects will result in low level energy usage in a building but at the same time substantial financial support packages are required to motivate apartment owners to take an extra step.

Roof top extensions for multifamily houses in Slovakia

Roof top extensions for multifamily houses in SlovakiaIn the countries of the European Union with the exception of Malta, approximately 100.1 million multifamily dwelling units are situated. These dwellings count for an average of 47.5% of the total housing stock in European Union countries. At present in Slovakia and also other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, there are vast housing areas which were built after World War II. Slovakia's multifamily housing stock was privatized during the 1990s. Considering that the economy of Slovakia is not capable of replacing the existing housing fund, which is located in the multifamily houses that were built after World War II, it is necessary to place an increased emphasis on the renovation of this housing fund. The expenditures for the refurbishment of multifamily housing stock in recent decades, when compared with the demand, have been at a very low level. The main problems involving the current multifamily housing stock in Slovakia are: the need for modernization, the low level of energy efficiency, and the insufficient level of building maintenance. One of the options for creating sufficient sources for the renovation of apartment buildings is to utilize the roofs of apartment buildings as construction areas for building additional floors (over - roofing). The means acquired from the sale of the new floors after deducting the costs can be used for renovation. It is a matter of a one-time possibility, which is limited by many factors that depend on the localization and constructive technical solutions for apartment buildings.This article is an outcome of the SuReFit "Sustainable Roof Extension Retrofit for High-Rise Social Housing in Europe" international research project.