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Optimum Thickness of Thermal Insulation with Both Economic and Ecological Costs of Heating and Cooling

Author

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  • Robert Dylewski

    (Institute of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Econometrics, University of Zielona Góra, Licealna 9, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland)

  • Janusz Adamczyk

    (Institute of Management and Quality, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Zielona Góra, Licealna 9, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland)

Abstract

The energy efficiency of the construction sector should be determined by the cleanliness of the environment and, thus, the health of society. The scientific aim of this article was to develop a methodology for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation, taking into account both economic and ecological aspects and considering both heating and cooling costs. The method takes into account the number of degree days of the heating period, as well as the number of degree days of the cooling period. Variants in terms of different types of thermal insulation, various types of construction materials for building walls, climatic zones and heat sources, were taken into consideration. In order to find the optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation, both in economic and ecological terms, a metacriterion was used. The optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation with the use of the metacriterion were obtained in the range of 0.11–0.55 m. It was observed that the values of the optimum heat transfer coefficients for economic and ecological reasons do not depend on the type of construction materials used for vertical walls. The type of applied heat source is of the greatest importance for the size of the economic and ecological benefits. The proposed mathematical model for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation with the use of a metacriterion is a kind of generalization of earlier models from the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Dylewski & Janusz Adamczyk, 2021. "Optimum Thickness of Thermal Insulation with Both Economic and Ecological Costs of Heating and Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3835-:d:582294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Dylewski, 2019. "Optimal Thermal Insulation Thicknesses of External Walls Based on Economic and Ecological Heating Cost," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Tronchin, Lamberto & Fabbri, Kristian, 2012. "Energy Performance Certificate of building and confidence interval in assessment: An Italian case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 176-184.
    3. Sofia Tsemekidi Tzeiranaki & Paolo Bertoldi & Francesca Diluiso & Luca Castellazzi & Marina Economidou & Nicola Labanca & Tiago Ribeiro Serrenho & Paolo Zangheri, 2019. "Analysis of the EU Residential Energy Consumption: Trends and Determinants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-27, March.
    4. Hernandez, Patxi & Kenny, Paul, 2011. "Development of a methodology for life cycle building energy ratings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3779-3788, June.
    5. Robert Dylewski & Janusz Adamczyk, 2020. "Impact of the Degree Days of the Heating Period on Economically and Ecologically Optimal Thermal Insulation Thickness," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Dascalaki, E.G. & Balaras, C.A. & Gaglia, A.G. & Droutsa, K.G. & Kontoyiannidis, S., 2012. "Energy performance of buildings—EPBD in Greece," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 469-477.
    7. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elaouzy, Y. & El Fadar, A., 2022. "Energy, economic and environmental benefits of integrating passive design strategies into buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Maciej Dzikuć & Arkadiusz Piwowar, 2022. "Economic Aspects of Low Carbon Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-3, July.
    3. Piccardo, Chiara & Gustavsson, Leif, 2023. "Deep energy retrofits using different retrofit materials under different scenarios: Life cycle cost and primary energy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

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