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Identification of the Building Envelope Performance of a Residential Building: A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Evi Lambie

    (Building Physics Section, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40—Box 2447, BE-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
    Cities in Transition, EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, BE-3600 Genk, Belgium)

  • Dirk Saelens

    (Building Physics Section, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40—Box 2447, BE-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
    Cities in Transition, EnergyVille, Thor Park 8310, BE-3600 Genk, Belgium)

Abstract

Since households are one of the most energy-intensive sectors in Europe, retrofit of dwellings is promoted to increase energy efficiency. Recent research, however, shows that the energy performance after retrofit does not always meet the target values, which can be caused by amongst other things, a deviating building envelope performance. This paper compares the theoretical and measured building envelope performance for a real-life case study in post-retrofit state, in order to illustrate the limitations of calculation methods and characterization models. First, the performance is evaluated on building scale by verifying the correspondence between the default theoretical heat loss coefficient (HLC) and the measured HLC, which was determined by following the guidelines formulated within IEA EBC Annex 58 and Annex 71. In order to illustrate the limitations of the standard calculation method in real-life conditions, the theoretical variability of the HLC is evaluated, generated by variating infiltration heat losses and heat exchange with neighboring dwellings. Second, the performance is investigated on a component scale by assessing the theoretical and measured thermal resistances, identified from heat flux tests. Additionally, nonhomogeneous assembled components and air leaks are simulated to verify probable causes for the locally varying measured values and to illustrate the limitations of calculations and characterization methods. The results illustrate the limitations of the calculation methods by the assessment of the strong variability of the theoretical HLC, depending on assumptions regarding infiltration and heat exchange with neighboring dwellings. In addition, component simulations indicated that deficiencies on a component scale could be caused by a nonhomogeneous assembly and air cavity flows of the component. Moreover, a detailed assessment of an unreliable thermal resistance illustrates the limitations of the used characterization method. Finally, a contrast was found between the quite good performance on building scale (15% deviation between the theoretical and measured HLC) and poor performance on a component scale (only one out of nine monitored components met their theoretical target values), which illustrates the complexity of the building envelope performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Evi Lambie & Dirk Saelens, 2020. "Identification of the Building Envelope Performance of a Residential Building: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:10:p:2469-:d:358056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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