Comparison of high-performance and conventional internal insulation materials based on hygrothermal analysis using in situ measurements and simulation

in Bauphysik (2022), 1

Following the European directive to reduce CO2 emissions of existing buildings by improving energy efficiency, internal insulation systems play a central role in the renovation of historically valuable ... [more ▼]

Following the European directive to reduce CO2 emissions of existing buildings by improving energy efficiency, internal insulation systems play a central role in the renovation of historically valuable buildings which cannot be insulated from the outside for reasons of monumental protection, or in cases where no additional exterior space is available. However, besides the thermal property of insulation systems, there are other relevant properties to be considered before choosing an internal insulation system, such as the hygrothermal behavior which plays a particularly important role in diffusion-open interior insulation systems. As the internal insulation layer reduces the temperature of the existing wall during the heating season, its drying potential after rain events is considerably reduced. In addition to the effects of moisture from the outside (mainly wind driven rain), the entry of humidity from the inside through diffusion plays an important role. In the presented study, high performance insulation materials with nanostructure based on silicon dioxide and polyurethane are compared to conventional material based on wood fiber from a hygrothermal point of view by analyzing in situ measurements and simulations. [less ▲]

Energy efficiency and indoor aire quality os seminar rooms in older buildings with and without mechanical ventilation

in Bauphysik (2019), 41(October 2019, Heft 5), 243-251

The present paper reports on an experimental study performed in a seminar room of the University of Luxembourg in a building of the 1970ies without a major renovation. This lecture room is typical for ... [more ▼]

The present paper reports on an experimental study performed in a seminar room of the University of Luxembourg in a building of the 1970ies without a major renovation. This lecture room is typical for this building period and has a capacity of 60 seats. It is equipped with a mechanical ventilation system that is normally in operation on workdays for 11 hours a day in semester periods (8:00-19:00h), while windows can be opened manually. A Blower-Door-Test revealed that the room is not airtight. During a year, the ventilation system was shut “on” and “off” in periods of some weeks and the consumed final-energy was measured, as well as the indoor climate assessed by physical and psychological measurements. For instance, the measured CO2 concentrations are marginally better with the ventilation system "on", which was not perceived in any way by the occupants during the investigations. It was not possible to properly identify the impact of ventilation on the consumed heat-energy, as the room could not be thermally separated from the rest of the building. But with the system “on” there was a clear increase in consumed primary energy due to the electric consumption of the fans. No relationship between the perceived percentage of dissatisfied and perceived climate could be observed. It is concluded that the typical normal operation modus is questionable for seminar rooms in older buildings with variable occupancy and that a simple shut down or semi-automatic user controlled modus by low-cost retrofit seems advantageous. [less ▲]

„Außenliegende Wandtemperierung“ – LowEx-Anwendung zur Temperierung von Bestandsgebäuden und thermischer Aktivierung der Bestandswand: Theoretische Grundlagen und Kennwerte

in Bauphysik (2017)

Ein Vergleich der nationalen Berechnungsvorschriften zur Gesamtenergieeffizienz und deren Realverbrauch anhand von 14 Bürogebäuden in Luxemburg, Deutschland, Belgien, der Schweiz und in Frankreich

in Bauphysik (2016), 38

Die EU-Mitgliedsstaaten sind gemäß den Richtlinien 2002/91/EG und 2010/31/EU verpflichtet, die Gesamtenergieeffizienz von Gebäuden abhängig von ihrer Art der Nutzung zu ermitteln und in einem Energiepass ... [more ▼]

Die EU-Mitgliedsstaaten sind gemäß den Richtlinien 2002/91/EG und 2010/31/EU verpflichtet, die Gesamtenergieeffizienz von Gebäuden abhängig von ihrer Art der Nutzung zu ermitteln und in einem Energiepass zu belegen. Die Ausgestaltung der Details des Berechnungsverfahrens und der Grenzwerte obliegt den Mitgliedsstaaten, denen man damit einen nationalen Entscheidungsspielraum zugesteht. Für 14 bestehende einfache kleinere Bürogebäude ohne Lüftung und Klimatisierung wurden die Berechnungen der Gesamtenergieeffizienz nach den jeweiligen Berechnungsmethoden durchgeführt und mit dem gemessenen realen Verbrauch verglichen. Die Abweichungen zwischen der berechneten Endenergie und dem tatsächlichen Verbrauch betragen zwar bis über 100% beim einzelnen Objekt, aber nur ca. + 28 % im Mittel bei der Heizenergie und nur wenige Prozent beim Strom, allerdings unter Annahme eines geschätzten Stromverbrauchs für die Büroausstattung. Die Abweichungen bei der Heizenergie und beim Strom können als gut bezeichnet werden. [less ▲]

Wie genau sind unsere Energiepässe?

in Bauphysik (2014), 1(2014), 40-43

Member States of the European Union are obliged to present a calculation method and certificate for the energy performance for buildings according to the guidelines 2002/91/EG und 2010/31/EU. In ... [more ▼]

Member States of the European Union are obliged to present a calculation method and certificate for the energy performance for buildings according to the guidelines 2002/91/EG und 2010/31/EU. In Luxembourg it is obligatory to add the real final energy consumption to the certificate after 3 years. The measured real final energy consumptions and the calculated ones were compared for 125 single-family homes and 105 multi-family homes with 870 dwellings in total. The mean calculated values for single-family homes were 74 % higher, the mean calculated values for multi-family homes 103 % higher than the actual measured data. The older the buildings, the higher the deviations, as the input parameters, which were partly assumed and partly predefined, diverge between calculations and reality. Sensitive parameters of interest are the indoor room temperature, the U-values, the used assessment for thermal bridges and the air exchange rate. [less ▲]