IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i10p1711-d113041.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimum Insulation Thickness for Building Exterior Walls in 32 Regions of China to Save Energy and Reduce CO 2 Emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Jihui Yuan

    (Department of Housing and Environmental Design, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka 5588585, Japan)

  • Craig Farnham

    (Department of Housing and Environmental Design, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka 5588585, Japan)

  • Kazuo Emura

    (Department of Housing and Environmental Design, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka 5588585, Japan)

Abstract

China accounts for approximately 30% of the CO 2 emissions—one of the largest proportions from a single nation. Therefore, reducing the CO 2 emissions in China will play a decisive role in global CO 2 emissions reduction. This paper is a proposal of optimum insulation thickness (OIT) for the exterior walls of buildings in 32 regions of China to save energy and reduce CO 2 emissions. The determination of the OIT for exterior walls its impact on the annual total energy cost and annual CO 2 emissions per unit area of building exterior walls were calculated for 32 regions of China using the life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and degree-days (DD) method. The results indicate that the annual total energy cost decreases up to the OIT level, and increases beyond the OIT level. The annual CO 2 emissions can be reduced by increasing the insulation thickness. It is predicted that the average total energy cost of 32 regions can potentially be decreased by about $5/m 2 -year (40%) and the average CO 2 emissions of the 32 regions can potentially be reduced by about 27 kg/m 2 -year (63%) when the OIT is applied. It also shows it is more effective to apply the OIT for the exterior walls of buildings to save annual total energy cost and reduce annual CO 2 emissions in the Severe Cold and Hot Summer & Cold Winter climatic zones rather than the other climatic zones of China.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1711-:d:113041
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/10/1711/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/10/1711/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Qin, Yinghong & Zhang, Mingyi & Hiller, Jacob E., 2017. "Theoretical and experimental studies on the daily accumulative heat gain from cool roofs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 138-147.
    3. Hasan, Afif, 1999. "Optimizing insulation thickness for buildings using life cycle cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 115-124, June.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    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. Li, Baizhan & Yao, Runming, 2009. "Urbanisation and its impact on building energy consumption and efficiency in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1994-1998.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    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. Muhammad Altaf & Wesam Salah Alaloul & Muhammad Ali Musarat & Abdul Hannan Qureshi, 2023. "Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of construction projects: sustainability perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12071-12118, November.

    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. 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.
    3. Omer Kaynakli, 2011. "Parametric Investigation of Optimum Thermal Insulation Thickness for External Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-15, June.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Pan, Dongmei & Chan, Mingyin & Deng, Shiming & Lin, Zhongping, 2012. "The effects of external wall insulation thickness on annual cooling and heating energy uses under different climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 313-318.
    15. 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.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. Luis M. López-Ochoa & Jesús Las-Heras-Casas & Luis M. López-González & César García-Lozano, 2020. "Energy Renovation of Residential Buildings in Cold Mediterranean Zones Using Optimized Thermal Envelope Insulation Thicknesses: The Case of Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-34, March.

    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:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1711-:d:113041. 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.