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New Equation for Optimal Insulation Dependency on the Climate for Office Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Kaiser Ahmed

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100 FI-00076 Aalto, 02150 Espoo, Finland
    Granlund Oy, PO Box 59 FI-00701, 00700 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jarek Kurnitski

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100 FI-00076 Aalto, 02150 Espoo, Finland
    Smart City Center of Excellence, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

Abstract

The comparison of building energy efficiency in different climates is a growing issue. Unique structural solutions will not ensure the same energy use, but the differences also remain if cost-optimal solutions are applied. This study developed a new equation for the assessment of building envelope optimal insulation in different climates for office buildings. The developed method suggests determining actual degree days from simulated heating energy need and the thermal conductance of a building, avoiding in such a way the use of a base temperature. The method was tested in four climates and validated against cost-optimal solutions solved with optimization. The accuracy of the method was assessed with sensitivity analyses of key parameters such as window-to-wall ratios (WWRs), window g-values, costs of heating, and electricity. These results showed that the existing square root equation overestimated the climate difference effect so that the calculation from the cold climate U-value resulted in less insulation than cost-optimal in warmer climates. Parametric analyses revealed that the power value of 0.2 remarkably improved the accuracy as well as performance worked well in all cases and can be recommended as a default value. Sensitivity analyses with a broad range of energy costs and window parameters revealed that the developed equation resulted in maximum 5% underestimation and maximum 7% overestimation of an average area-weighted optimal U-value of building envelope in another climate. The developed method allows objectively to compare optimal insulation of the building envelope in different climates. The method is easy to apply for energy performance comparison of similar buildings in different climates and also for energy performance requirements comparison.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaiser Ahmed & Jarek Kurnitski, 2021. "New Equation for Optimal Insulation Dependency on the Climate for Office Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:321-:d:477021
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesco Calise & Massimo Dentice D’Accadia & Carlo Barletta & Vittoria Battaglia & Antun Pfeifer & Neven Duic, 2017. "Detailed Modelling of the Deep Decarbonisation Scenarios with Demand Response Technologies in the Heating and Cooling Sector: A Case Study for Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-33, October.
    2. Kaiser Ahmed & Margaux Carlier & Christian Feldmann & Jarek Kurnitski, 2018. "A New Method for Contrasting Energy Performance and Near-Zero Energy Building Requirements in Different Climates and Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Ucar, Aynur & Balo, Figen, 2010. "Determination of the energy savings and the optimum insulation thickness in the four different insulated exterior walls," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 88-94.
    4. Yu, Jinghua & Yang, Changzhi & Tian, Liwei & Liao, Dan, 2009. "A study on optimum insulation thicknesses of external walls in hot summer and cold winter zone of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(11), pages 2520-2529, November.
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