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Thermal Monitoring and Simulation of Earthen Buildings. A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ariadna Carrobé

    (Sustainable Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Lídia Rincón

    (Sustainable Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Ingrid Martorell

    (Sustainable Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain
    Generalitat de Catalunya Serra Húnter Fellow.)

Abstract

Since ancient times, raw earth has been used worldwide as a construction material. Today, it is well known for its good environmental properties of recyclability and low embodied energy along the production process. Earthen walls regulate the interior temperature of the buildings, providing comfortable temperatures with a very low carbon footprint. As a result of those advantages, earthen building techniques have been revived and used for contemporary architecture. The aim of this paper is to review the state of the art about the thermal behaviour of earthen building, including all the monitoring and simulation analysis of real earthen constructions up to now. The paper presents the different earthen techniques known nowadays, analysing the most important thermal parameters and the thermal comfort achieved with each technique. Regardless the wide differences among the analyzed cases, the authors conclude that earth building is a suitable solution in hot and arid climates, since it preserves the indoor temperature within the thermal comfort limits most part of the time without any active system.

Suggested Citation

  • Ariadna Carrobé & Lídia Rincón & Ingrid Martorell, 2021. "Thermal Monitoring and Simulation of Earthen Buildings. A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-47, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:8:p:2080-:d:532642
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mu, Jun & Yu, Shenwei & Hao, Shimeng, 2023. "Quantitative evaluation of thermal conductivity of earth materials with different particle size distributions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

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