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Applications of the infrared thermography in the energy audit of buildings: A review

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  • Lucchi, Elena

Abstract

From a wide range of bibliography (148 publications composed by books, guidelines, scientific papers, and other documents), the study presents a critical review of the use of the infrared thermography (IRT) survey in the building energy audit. After explaining its historical growth, the applicability of passive and active approaches has been described, considering well-established and emerging techniques, general procedures, types of IR-camera used, technical issues, and limitations. The passive approach is the most common to detect thermally significant defects. Thus, a specific procedure for the energy audit has been reported, matching different standards, guidelines, and professional advice. Similarly, recurring energy related problems are toughly presented (i.e. thermal characterization of buildings; thermal bridging, insulation level, air leakage and moisture detection; indoor temperature and U-value measurements; human comfort assessment). Finally, advantages and potential sources of errors as well as future trends in the use of IRT for the energy audit have been described. The research aims to serve as a reference for energy auditors and thermographers, to decide upon the best procedure for detecting specific energy defects.

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  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:82:y:2018:i:p3:p:3077-3090
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.031
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    1. Ohlsson, K.E.A. & Olofsson, T., 2014. "Quantitative infrared thermography imaging of the density of heat flow rate through a building element surface," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 499-505.
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    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Kylili, Angeliki & Fokaides, Paris A. & Christou, Petros & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2014. "Infrared thermography (IRT) applications for building diagnostics: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 531-549.
    8. Flores Larsen, Silvana & Hongn, Marcos, 2014. "Determining the infrared reflectance of specular surfaces by using thermographic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 306-313.
    9. Fokaides, Paris A. & Jurelionis, Andrius & Gagyte, Laura & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2016. "Mock target IR thermography for indoor air temperature measurement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 676-685.
    10. Lehmann, B. & Ghazi Wakili, K. & Frank, Th. & Vera Collado, B. & Tanner, Ch., 2013. "Effects of individual climatic parameters on the infrared thermography of buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 29-43.
    11. Francesco Bianchi & Anna Laura Pisello & Giorgio Baldinelli & Francesco Asdrubali, 2014. "Infrared Thermography Assessment of Thermal Bridges in Building Envelope: Experimental Validation in a Test Room Setup," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Baldinelli, G. & Bianchi, F., 2014. "Windows thermal resistance: Infrared thermography aided comparative analysis among finite volumes simulations and experimental methods," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 250-258.
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    9. Shariq, M. Hasan & Hughes, Ben Richard, 2020. "Revolutionising building inspection techniques to meet large-scale energy demands: A review of the state-of-the-art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
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    11. 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.
    12. Manuel J. Carretero-Ayuso & Carlos E. Rodríguez-Jiménez & David Bienvenido-Huertas & Juan Moyano, 2020. "Cataloguing of the Defects Existing in Aluminium Window Frames and Their Recurrence According to Pluvio-Climatic Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    13. Blanca Tejedor & Eva Barreira & Vasco Peixoto de Freitas & Tomasz Kisilewicz & Katarzyna Nowak-Dzieszko & Umberto Berardi, 2020. "Impact of Stationary and Dynamic Conditions on the U-Value Measurements of Heavy-Multi Leaf Walls by Quantitative IRT," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    14. Rasooli, Arash & Itard, Laure, 2019. "In-situ rapid determination of walls’ thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity, and thermal resistance, using response factors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Akkurt, G.G. & Aste, N. & Borderon, J. & Buda, A. & Calzolari, M. & Chung, D. & Costanzo, V. & Del Pero, C. & Evola, G. & Huerto-Cardenas, H.E. & Leonforte, F. & Lo Faro, A. & Lucchi, E. & Marletta, L, 2020. "Dynamic thermal and hygrometric simulation of historical buildings: Critical factors and possible solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    16. 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.
    17. Garrido, I. & Lagüela, S. & Otero, R. & Arias, P., 2020. "Thermographic methodologies used in infrastructure inspection: A review—Post-processing procedures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    18. Younness EL Fouih & Amine Allouhi & Jamil Abdelmajid & Tarik Kousksou & Youssef Mourad, 2020. "Post Energy Audit of Two Mosques as a Case Study of Intermittent Occupancy Buildings: Toward more Sustainable Mosques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-22, December.

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