IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v12y2019i9p1677-d227953.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of Airtightness on Thermal Loads in Legacy Low-Income Housing

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Jesica Fernández-Agüera

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Miguel Ángel Campano

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Ignacio Acosta

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

Abstract

Spain’s high winter weather-associated death count, the second largest in Europe, can be attributed primarily to the low construction standards of its social housing, particularly the stock built prior to the entry into effect of the earliest statutory provisions on envelope quality. Hence, improving building envelopes to both reduce energy consumption and raise occupant comfort levels is important. Air leakage is one of the factors with the greatest impact on indoor comfort and domestic energy consumption. This study explores the sensitivity of energy consumption to that parameter in a series of types of social housing built between 1950 and 1979 in five Mediterranean climate zones. Demand in a total of 53 housing units located in 21 developments was simulated to that end. The findings show that air permeability has a significant effect on wintertime demand in the sample studied. Although the impact is greater in the more severe climates where it is estimated to be over 10 kWh/m 2 , it may also affect energy consumption in mild climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Miguel Ángel Campano & Ignacio Acosta, 2019. "Effect of Airtightness on Thermal Loads in Legacy Low-Income Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1677-:d:227953
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/9/1677/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/9/1677/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jesús Feijó-Muñoz & Irene Poza-Casado & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano & Cristina Pardal & Víctor Echarri & Rafael Assiego De Larriva & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & María Jesús Dios-Viéitez & Víctor Jos, 2018. "Methodology for the Study of the Envelope Airtightness of Residential Buildings in Spain: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Juan José Sendra & Susan Roaf, 2018. "Rethinking User Behaviour Comfort Patterns in the South of Spain—What Users Really Do," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Maria Ferrara & Valentina Monetti & Enrico Fabrizio, 2018. "Cost-Optimal Analysis for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Design and Optimization: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, June.
    4. Samuel Domínguez & Juan J. Sendra & Angel L. León & Paula M. Esquivias, 2012. "Towards Energy Demand Reduction in Social Housing Buildings: Envelope System Optimization Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-25, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Artur Nowoświat & Iwona Pokorska-Silva & Mateusz Konewecki, 2021. "Tightness of Single-Family Buildings Made in Prefabricated Wood Frame Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Lin, Xiaojie & Zhang, Junwei & Du-Ikonen, Liuliu & Zhong, Wei, 2023. "An infiltration load calculation model of large-space buildings based on the grand canonical ensemble theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    3. Carolina Aparicio-Fernández & José-Luis Vivancos & Paula Cosar-Jorda & Richard A. Buswell, 2019. "Energy Modelling and Calibration of Building Simulations: A Case Study of a Domestic Building with Natural Ventilation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Nerea García-Cortés & Miguel Ángel Campano, 2021. "Analysis of Building Archetypes for Optimising New Photovoltaic Energy Facilities: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Samuel Dominguez-Amarillo & Marco Fornaciari & Fabio Orlandi, 2019. "TVOCs and PM 2.5 in Naturally Ventilated Homes: Three Case Studies in a Mild Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Miguel Ángel Campano, 2019. "Characterising Draught in Mediterranean Multifamily Housing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Sonia Cesteros-García & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano, 2020. "Bad Air Can Also Kill: Residential Indoor Air Quality and Pollutant Exposure Risk during the COVID-19 Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-33, September.
    4. Miguel-Angel Perea-Moreno & Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Escobedo & Fernando Rueda-Martinez & Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno, 2020. "Zapote Seed ( Pouteria mammosa L. ) Valorization for Thermal Energy Generation in Tropical Climates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Kittisak Lohwanitchai & Daranee Jareemit, 2021. "Modeling Energy Efficiency Performance and Cost-Benefit Analysis Achieving Net-Zero Energy Building Design: Case Studies of Three Representative Offices in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Evelina Di Corso & Tania Cerquitelli & Daniele Apiletti, 2018. "METATECH: METeorological Data Analysis for Thermal Energy CHaracterization by Means of Self-Learning Transparent Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-24, May.
    7. Shengyuan Guo & Wanjiang Wang & Yihuan Zhou, 2022. "Research on Energy Saving and Economy of Old Buildings Based on Parametric Design: A Case Study of a Hospital in Linyi City, Shandong Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Mehdi Taebnia & Sander Toomla & Lauri Leppä & Jarek Kurnitski, 2019. "Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Valdas Paukštys & Gintaris Cinelis & Jūratė Mockienė & Mindaugas Daukšys, 2021. "Airtightness and Heat Energy Loss of Mid-Size Terraced Houses Built of Different Construction Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
    10. De Boeck, L. & Verbeke, S. & Audenaert, A. & De Mesmaeker, L., 2015. "Improving the energy performance of residential buildings: A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 960-975.
    11. Carmen María Calama-González & Rafael Suárez & Ángel Luis León-Rodríguez & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo, 2018. "Evaluation of Thermal Comfort Conditions in Retrofitted Facades Using Test Cells and Considering Overheating Scenarios in a Mediterranean Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, March.
    12. Heangwoo Lee & Chang-ho Choi & Minki Sung, 2018. "Development of a Dimming Lighting Control System Using General Illumination and Location-Awareness Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    13. Valdemaras Geležiūnas & Karolis Banionis & Raimondas Bliūdžius & Valdas Paukštys & Jurga Kumžienė, 2020. "Analysis of Air Permeability of Insulated Masonry Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    14. Baldoni, Edoardo & Coderoni, Silvia & D'Orazio, Marco & Di Giuseppe, Elisa & Esposti, Roberto, 2019. "The role of economic and policy variables in energy-efficient retrofitting assessment. A stochastic Life Cycle Costing methodology," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1207-1219.
    15. Belen Moreno Santamaria & Fernando del Ama Gonzalo & Danielle Pinette & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano & Benito Lauret Aguirregabiria & Juan A. Hernandez Ramos, 2020. "Application and Validation of a Dynamic Energy Simulation Tool: A Case Study with Water Flow Glazing Envelope," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José-Manuel del-Río & Fernando del Ama Gonzalo & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2020. "The Relationship between the Use of Building Performance Simulation Tools by Recent Graduate Architects and the Deficiencies in Architectural Education," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    17. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & Mauro, Gerardo Maria & Napolitano, Davide Ferdinando, 2019. "Retrofit of villas on Mediterranean coastlines: Pareto optimization with a view to energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    18. Echarri-Iribarren, Victor & Echarri-Iribarren, Fernando & Rizo-Maestre, Carlos, 2019. "Ceramic panels versus aluminium in buildings: Energy consumption and environmental impact assessment with a new methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 959-974.
    19. Esad Tombarević & Igor Vušanović & Milan Šekularac, 2023. "The Impact of Windows Replacement on Airtightness and Energy Consumption of a Single Apartment in a Multi-Family Residential Building in Montenegro: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, February.
    20. Zinzi, Michele & Mattoni, Benedetta, 2019. "Assessment of construction cost reduction of nearly zero energy dwellings in a life cycle perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1677-:d:227953. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.