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Infrared Screening of Residential Buildings for Energy Audit Purposes: Results of a Field Test

Author

Listed:
  • Giuliano Dall'O'

    (Architecture, Building Environment and Construction Engineering (A.B.C.) Department, Polytechnic of Milan, Via E. Bonardi 9, 10133 Milano, Italy)

  • Luca Sarto

    (Architecture, Building Environment and Construction Engineering (A.B.C.) Department, Polytechnic of Milan, Via E. Bonardi 9, 10133 Milano, Italy)

  • Angela Panza

    (Architecture, Building Environment and Construction Engineering (A.B.C.) Department, Polytechnic of Milan, Via E. Bonardi 9, 10133 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

In the European Union (EU), the building sector is responsible for approximately 40% of total energy consumption. The existing building stock is inefficient and can, and indeed must be retrofitted to address this issue. The practical implementation of the European strategies requires knowledge of the energy performance of existing buildings through energy audit techniques. Application of thermography in the fields of energy are very widespread, since, through such a non-invasive investigation, and through correct interpretation of infrared images, it is possible to highlight inefficiencies in buildings and related facilities. The paper shows and discusses the results of an infrared audit campaign on 14 existing buildings located in Milan Province (Italy) made in different construction periods and characterised, therefore, by different building technologies. The U-values obtained in an indirect way through the thermography of the opaque walls of the buildings investigated, were compared with the actual known values in order to verify the reliability of the method and the possible margin of error. The study indicated that the category of buildings in which the application of this method is sufficiently reliable is that of solid-mass structure buildings, the most widespread in Italy, whereas in the case of buildings whose external walls are insulated, the percentage of deviation is very high.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuliano Dall'O' & Luca Sarto & Angela Panza, 2013. "Infrared Screening of Residential Buildings for Energy Audit Purposes: Results of a Field Test," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:8:p:3859-3878:d:27599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fokaides, Paris A. & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2011. "Application of infrared thermography for the determination of the overall heat transfer coefficient (U-Value) in building envelopes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 4358-4365.
    2. Andris Piebalgs, 2006. "Green paper: A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 7(02), pages 8-20, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Albatici, Rossano & Tonelli, Arnaldo M. & Chiogna, Michela, 2015. "A comprehensive experimental approach for the validation of quantitative infrared thermography in the evaluation of building thermal transmittance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 218-228.
    2. Doo Sung Choi & Myeong Jin Ko, 2019. "Analysis of Convergence Characteristics of Average Method Regulated by ISO 9869-1 for Evaluating In Situ Thermal Resistance and Thermal Transmittance of Opaque Exterior Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Seyoung Park & Seo Hoon Kim & Hakgeun Jeong & Sung Lok Do & Jonghun Kim, 2021. "In Situ Evaluation of the U-Value of a Window Using the Infrared Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, March.
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    5. Doo Sung Choi & Myeong Jin Ko, 2017. "Comparison of Various Analysis Methods Based on Heat Flowmeters and Infrared Thermography Measurements for the Evaluation of the In Situ Thermal Transmittance of Opaque Exterior Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-22, July.
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    8. Lucchi, Elena, 2018. "Applications of the infrared thermography in the energy audit of buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3077-3090.
    9. Iole Nardi & Elena Lucchi, 2023. "In Situ Thermal Transmittance Assessment of the Building Envelope: Practical Advice and Outlooks for Standard and Innovative Procedures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-31, April.
    10. Seo-Hoon Kim & Jung-Hun Lee & Jong-Hun Kim & Seung-Hwan Yoo & Hak-Geun Jeong, 2018. "The Feasibility of Improving the Accuracy of In Situ Measurements in the Air-Surface Temperature Ratio Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Martin, Miguel & Chong, Adrian & Biljecki, Filip & Miller, Clayton, 2022. "Infrared thermography in the built environment: A multi-scale review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    12. Cristina Cornaro & Gianluigi Bovesecchi & Filippo Calcerano & Letizia Martinelli & Elena Gigliarelli, 2023. "An HBIM Integrated Approach Using Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) to Support Energy and Environmental Improvement of Built Heritage: The Case Study of Palazzo Maffei Borghese in Rome," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-36, July.
    13. O'Grady, Małgorzata & Lechowska, Agnieszka A. & Harte, Annette M., 2017. "Quantification of heat losses through building envelope thermal bridges influenced by wind velocity using the outdoor infrared thermography technique," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1038-1052.
    14. Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul & Rahma Hagi & Rahma Abdelghani & Monaya Syam & Boshra Akhozheya, 2021. "Building Envelope Thermal Defects in Existing and Under-Construction Housing in the UAE; Infrared Thermography Diagnosis and Qualitative Impacts Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. David Bienvenido-Huertas, 2020. "Assessing the Environmental Impact of Thermal Transmittance Tests Performed in Façades of Existing Buildings: The Case of Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, August.
    16. David Bienvenido-Huertas & Roberto Rodríguez-Álvaro & Juan José Moyano & Fernando Rico & David Marín, 2018. "Determining the U -Value of Façades Using the Thermometric Method: Potentials and Limitations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, February.
    17. Jishin George Oommen & Noel Simon Roy & R.D. Brittoraj, 2024. "Exploring the Landscape of Energy Audits: A Bibliometric Analysis," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(1), pages 31-36, January.
    18. Miłosz Raczyński & Radosław Rutkowski, 2020. "How Pro-Environmental Legal Regulations Affect the Design Process and Management of Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-23, October.
    19. Bienvenido-Huertas, David & Moyano, Juan & Marín, David & Fresco-Contreras, Rafael, 2019. "Review of in situ methods for assessing the thermal transmittance of walls," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 356-371.

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