IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v4y2011i6p913-927d12650.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Parametric Investigation of Optimum Thermal Insulation Thickness for External Walls

Author

Listed:
  • Omer Kaynakli

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Uludag, TR-16059, Bursa, Turkey)

Abstract

Numerous studies have estimated the optimum thickness of thermal insulation materials used in building walls for different climate conditions. The economic parameters (inflation rate, discount rate, lifetime and energy costs), the heating/cooling loads of the building, the wall structure and the properties of the insulation material all affect the optimum insulation thickness. This study focused on the investigation of these parameters that affect the optimum thermal insulation thickness for building walls. To determine the optimum thickness and payback period, an economic model based on life-cycle cost analysis was used. As a result, the optimum thermal insulation thickness increased with increasing the heating and cooling energy requirements, the lifetime of the building, the inflation rate, energy costs and thermal conductivity of insulation. However, the thickness decreased with increasing the discount rate, the insulation material cost, the total wall resistance, the coefficient of performance ( COP ) of the cooling system and the solar radiation incident on a wall. In addition, the effects of these parameters on the total life-cycle cost, payback periods and energy savings were also investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Omer Kaynakli, 2011. "Parametric Investigation of Optimum Thermal Insulation Thickness for External Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:4:y:2011:i:6:p:913-927:d:12650
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/4/6/913/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/4/6/913/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Farhanieh, B. & Sattari, S., 2006. "Simulation of energy saving in Iranian buildings using integrative modelling for insulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 417-425.
    2. Büyükalaca, Orhan & Bulut, Hüsamettin & YIlmaz, Tuncay, 2001. "Analysis of variable-base heating and cooling degree-days for Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 269-283, August.
    3. Al-Sanea, Sami A. & Zedan, M.F. & Al-Ajlan, Saleh A., 2005. "Effect of electricity tariff on the optimum insulation-thickness in building walls as determined by a dynamic heat-transfer model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(4), pages 313-330, December.
    4. DombaycI, Ö. Altan & Gölcü, Mustafa & Pancar, Yasar, 2006. "Optimization of insulation thickness for external walls using different energy-sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(9), pages 921-928, September.
    5. Daouas, Naouel, 2011. "A study on optimum insulation thickness in walls and energy savings in Tunisian buildings based on analytical calculation of cooling and heating transmission loads," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 156-164, January.
    6. Sisman, Nuri & Kahya, Emin & Aras, Nil & Aras, Haydar, 2007. "Determination of optimum insulation thicknesses of the external walls and roof (ceiling) for Turkey's different degree-day regions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 5151-5155, October.
    7. Ogulata, R. Tugrul, 2002. "Sectoral energy consumption in Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 6(5), pages 471-480, October.
    8. Hasan, Afif, 1999. "Optimizing insulation thickness for buildings using life cycle cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 115-124, June.
    9. Kaynakli, O., 2008. "A study on residential heating energy requirement and optimum insulation thickness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1164-1172.
    10. Ucar, Aynur & Balo, Figen, 2009. "Effect of fuel type on the optimum thickness of selected insulation materials for the four different climatic regions of Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(5), pages 730-736, May.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Papakostas, K. & Mavromatis, T. & Kyriakis, N., 2010. "Impact of the ambient temperature rise on the energy consumption for heating and cooling in residential buildings of Greece," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1376-1379.
    14. Mahlia, T.M.I. & Iqbal, A., 2010. "Cost benefits analysis and emission reductions of optimum thickness and air gaps for selected insulation materials for building walls in Maldives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2242-2250.
    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. Abdrahman Alsabry & Krzysztof Szymański & Bartosz Michalak, 2023. "Energy, Economic and Environmental Analysis of Alternative, High-Efficiency Sources of Heat and Energy for Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Order to Increase Energy Efficiency in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Almalkawi, Areej T. & Soroushian, Parviz & Shrestha, Som S., 2019. "Evaluation of the Energy-Efficiency of an Aerated Slurry-Infiltrated Mesh Building System with Biomass-Based Insulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 797-806.
    3. Sevindir, M. Kemal & Demir, Hakan & Ağra, Özden & Atayılmaz, Ş. Özgür & Teke, İsmail, 2017. "Modelling the optimum distribution of insulation material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 74-84.
    4. Krzysztof Grygierek & Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek & Anna Gumińska & Łukasz Baran & Magdalena Barwa & Kamila Czerw & Paulina Gowik & Klaudia Makselan & Klaudia Potyka & Agnes Psikuta, 2020. "Energy and Environmental Analysis of Single-Family Houses Located in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Abdrahman Alsabry & Krzysztof Szymański & Beata Backiel-Brzozowska, 2024. "Analysis of the Energy, Environmental and Economic Efficiency of Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-32, April.
    6. Kaynakli, Omer, 2014. "Economic thermal insulation thickness for pipes and ducts: A review study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 184-194.
    7. Mehmet Kadri Akyüz & Önder Altuntaş & Mehmet Ziya Söğüt, 2017. "Economic and Environmental Optimization of an Airport Terminal Building’s Wall and Roof Insulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-18, October.

    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. Axaopoulos, Ioannis & Axaopoulos, Petros & Gelegenis, John, 2014. "Optimum insulation thickness for external walls on different orientations considering the speed and direction of the wind," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 167-175.
    2. Aditya, L. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Rismanchi, B. & Ng, H.M. & Hasan, M.H. & Metselaar, H.S.C. & Muraza, Oki & Aditiya, H.B., 2017. "A review on insulation materials for energy conservation in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1352-1365.
    3. Kaynakli, Omer, 2014. "Economic thermal insulation thickness for pipes and ducts: A review study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 184-194.
    4. Bektas Ekici, Betul & Aytac Gulten, Ayca & Aksoy, U. Teoman, 2012. "A study on the optimum insulation thicknesses of various types of external walls with respect to different materials, fuels and climate zones in Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 211-217.
    5. Küçüktopcu, Erdem & Cemek, Bilal, 2018. "A study on environmental impact of insulation thickness of poultry building walls," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 583-590.
    6. Ozel, Meral, 2011. "Effect of wall orientation on the optimum insulation thickness by using a dynamic method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2429-2435, July.
    7. Ozel, Meral, 2012. "The influence of exterior surface solar absorptivity on thermal characteristics and optimum insulation thickness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 347-355.
    8. Nematchoua, Modeste Kameni & Raminosoa, Chrysostôme R.R. & Mamiharijaona, Ramaroson & René, Tchinda & Orosa, José A. & Elvis, Watis & Meukam, Pierre, 2015. "Study of the economical and optimum thermal insulation thickness for buildings in a wet and hot tropical climate: Case of Cameroon," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1192-1202.
    9. Özkan, Derya B. & Onan, Cenk, 2011. "Optimization of insulation thickness for different glazing areas in buildings for various climatic regions in Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1331-1342, April.
    10. Ucar, Aynur & Balo, Figen, 2009. "Effect of fuel type on the optimum thickness of selected insulation materials for the four different climatic regions of Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(5), pages 730-736, May.
    11. Daouas, Naouel, 2016. "Impact of external longwave radiation on optimum insulation thickness in Tunisian building roofs based on a dynamic analytical model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 136-148.
    12. Daouas, Naouel, 2011. "A study on optimum insulation thickness in walls and energy savings in Tunisian buildings based on analytical calculation of cooling and heating transmission loads," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 156-164, January.
    13. Al-Sanea, Sami A. & Zedan, M.F., 2011. "Improving thermal performance of building walls by optimizing insulation layer distribution and thickness for same thermal mass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3113-3124.
    14. Mahlia, T.M.I. & Iqbal, A., 2010. "Cost benefits analysis and emission reductions of optimum thickness and air gaps for selected insulation materials for building walls in Maldives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2242-2250.
    15. Jihui Yuan & Craig Farnham & Kazuo Emura, 2017. "Optimum Insulation Thickness for Building Exterior Walls in 32 Regions of China to Save Energy and Reduce CO 2 Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-13, September.
    16. Jung Ho Kim & Young Il Kim, 2021. "Optimal Combination of External Wall Insulation Thickness and Surface Solar Reflectivity of Non-Residential Buildings in the Korean Peninsula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    17. Ibrahim, Mohamad & Biwole, Pascal Henry & Achard, Patrick & Wurtz, Etienne & Ansart, Guillaume, 2015. "Building envelope with a new aerogel-based insulating rendering: Experimental and numerical study, cost analysis, and thickness optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 490-501.
    18. Zhang, L.Y. & Jin, L.W. & Wang, Z.N. & Zhang, J.Y. & Liu, X. & Zhang, L.H., 2017. "Effects of wall configuration on building energy performance subject to different climatic zones of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1565-1573.
    19. Yvan Dutil & Daniel Rousse, 2012. "Energy Costs of Energy Savings in Buildings: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(8), pages 1-22, August.
    20. Bahadori, Alireza & Vuthaluru, Hari B., 2010. "A simple method for the estimation of thermal insulation thickness," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 613-619, February.

    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:4:y:2011:i:6:p:913-927:d:12650. 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.