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Effect of Airtightness on Thermal Loads in Legacy Low-Income Housing

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  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Jesica Fernández-Agüera

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Miguel Ángel Campano

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Ignacio Acosta

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain)

Abstract

Spain’s high winter weather-associated death count, the second largest in Europe, can be attributed primarily to the low construction standards of its social housing, particularly the stock built prior to the entry into effect of the earliest statutory provisions on envelope quality. Hence, improving building envelopes to both reduce energy consumption and raise occupant comfort levels is important. Air leakage is one of the factors with the greatest impact on indoor comfort and domestic energy consumption. This study explores the sensitivity of energy consumption to that parameter in a series of types of social housing built between 1950 and 1979 in five Mediterranean climate zones. Demand in a total of 53 housing units located in 21 developments was simulated to that end. The findings show that air permeability has a significant effect on wintertime demand in the sample studied. Although the impact is greater in the more severe climates where it is estimated to be over 10 kWh/m 2 , it may also affect energy consumption in mild climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Miguel Ángel Campano & Ignacio Acosta, 2019. "Effect of Airtightness on Thermal Loads in Legacy Low-Income Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1677-:d:227953
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jesús Feijó-Muñoz & Irene Poza-Casado & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano & Cristina Pardal & Víctor Echarri & Rafael Assiego De Larriva & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & María Jesús Dios-Viéitez & Víctor Jos, 2018. "Methodology for the Study of the Envelope Airtightness of Residential Buildings in Spain: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Juan José Sendra & Susan Roaf, 2018. "Rethinking User Behaviour Comfort Patterns in the South of Spain—What Users Really Do," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Maria Ferrara & Valentina Monetti & Enrico Fabrizio, 2018. "Cost-Optimal Analysis for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Design and Optimization: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, June.
    4. Samuel Domínguez & Juan J. Sendra & Angel L. León & Paula M. Esquivias, 2012. "Towards Energy Demand Reduction in Social Housing Buildings: Envelope System Optimization Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-25, July.
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    2. Lin, Xiaojie & Zhang, Junwei & Du-Ikonen, Liuliu & Zhong, Wei, 2023. "An infiltration load calculation model of large-space buildings based on the grand canonical ensemble theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    3. Carolina Aparicio-Fernández & José-Luis Vivancos & Paula Cosar-Jorda & Richard A. Buswell, 2019. "Energy Modelling and Calibration of Building Simulations: A Case Study of a Domestic Building with Natural Ventilation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Nerea García-Cortés & Miguel Ángel Campano, 2021. "Analysis of Building Archetypes for Optimising New Photovoltaic Energy Facilities: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, November.

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