Full-Fledged Use of Semi-Basement Space by Building Seismic-Resistance, Energy-Efficiency, Microclimate and Preventing Influences of Thermal Bridges and Mold Growth

Abstract

The known theory and experience of energy-saving architecture allow solving the article's task and ensuring sufficient insolation, passive solar heating, and occupants contact with nature through semi-basement windows. The goal is a full-fledged use of the semi-basement space achieved for seismically active regions with a moderate, cold, and hot climate by ensuring the normative seismic-resistance, energy-efficiency, and microclimate of the building and preventing influence of thermal bridges and mold growth. The set of recommendations also covers the provision of the required sanitary-hygienic conditions in the semi-basement rooms. The multidisciplinary problem is solved by integrating the methodologies of various fields of science. By means of numerical investigations, it established that the soil adjacent to the semi-basement foundation wall increases the thermal mass and building envelope heat-protection capacity. The isotherms and the intensity of heat fluxes made it possible to eliminate the effect of thermal bridges that interact with the soil and outside air. The expedient thickness and width of the additional layer of thermal insulation of thermal bridge zones in excess of the normative layer of the enclosure's thermal insulation were established. The graphical dependence of the wall's inner corner temperature from this width allows selecting the microclimate level. A multilateral contribution to building improvement is derived from a single-family home example: comfortable microclimate conditions have been created in the semi-basement for placing main rooms there; energy savings for heating this space is 16-20%; saving of monolithic frame and foundation concrete is 10-12% ensuring the higher than normative building seismic-resistance.

Excavated Earth Area Maximization as a Basement and Outdoor Living Space on a Sloped Terrain Housing

“…A basement is the floor of a building that is partially or wholly below ground level. A Semi-basement is a basement whose surface is not entirely underground [15]. Usually, this type utilizes the contour of the land that slopes backward or forward from the face of the road.…”

Energy Saving Architecture Concept: Buildings with Low Energy Consumption and Emissions in Kyrgyzstan

“…Energy-saving architecture is also aimed [5,6] at solving the multidisciplinary problem of providing a daily and year-round indoor microclimate and minimal energy consumption, taking into account the prevention of the influence of thermal bridges and mold growth [7]. Energy-saving architecture has two primary objectives [4].…”