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Airtightness and Heat Energy Loss of Mid-Size Terraced Houses Built of Different Construction Materials

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  • Valdas Paukštys

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
    Institute of Architecture and Construction, Kaunas University of Technology, Tunelio st. 60, 44405 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Gintaris Cinelis

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Jūratė Mockienė

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Mindaugas Daukšys

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

The European Union has adopted legislation aimed to increase the use of renewable energy and improve the effectiveness of conventional-form energy use. Additional structure insulation helps to decrease heat energy loss. Airtightness of the building envelope (building airtightness) is an additional factor that determines comfortable and energy-saving living environment. The conformity of heat energy loss with the object’s design energy class is one of the mandatory indicators used in the obligatory building energy performance certification procedure. Optionally, the objects to be certified are the entire buildings or separate units (flats). There is an issue of concern whether a flat assessed as a separate housing unit would meet the requirements of design energy class depending on the location of the unit in the building. The study is aimed to determine the change in heat loss of end units in terraced houses (townhouses) as a result of various factors, leading to uneven airtightness of the building envelope. The non-destructive assessment of building airtightness was implemented through the combined use of methods, namely Blower Door Test (around 200 measurements) and Infrared Thermography. The hollow clay unit masonry showed ca. 7–11% less airtightness than the sand–lime block masonry structure. The end units were up to 20% less airtight compared to the inside units.

Suggested Citation

  • Valdas Paukštys & Gintaris Cinelis & Jūratė Mockienė & Mindaugas Daukšys, 2021. "Airtightness and Heat Energy Loss of Mid-Size Terraced Houses Built of Different Construction Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6367-:d:650182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jolanta Šadauskienė & Valdas Paukštys & Lina Šeduikytė & Karolis Banionis, 2014. "Impact of Air Tightness on the Evaluation of Building Energy Performance in Lithuania," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Jessika Steen Englund & Mathias Cehlin & Jan Akander & Bahram Moshfegh, 2020. "Measured and Simulated Energy Use in a Secondary School Building in Sweden—A Case Study of Validation, Airing, and Occupancy Behaviour," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Seyedmohammadreza Heibati & Wahid Maref & Hamed H. Saber, 2019. "Assessing the Energy and Indoor Air Quality Performance for a Three-Story Building Using an Integrated Model, Part One: The Need for Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Kyung-Hwan Ji & Hyun-Kook Shin & Seungwoo Han & Jae-Hun Jo, 2020. "A Statistical Approach for Predicting Airtightness in Residential Units of Reinforced Concrete Apartment Buildings in Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    5. 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.
    6. Mahabir Bhandari & Diana Hun & Som Shrestha & Simon Pallin & Melissa Lapsa, 2018. "A Simplified Methodology to Estimate Energy Savings in Commercial Buildings from Improvements in Airtightness," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, November.
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