On calculated and actual energy savings from thermal building renovations – Long term field evaluation of multifamily buildings

Cholewa, Tomasz; Balaras, Constantinos A.; Nižetić, Sandro; Siuta-Olcha, Alicja

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110145

Cited by 41 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The results obtained in this study confirm the general trend observed in thermal restoration of buildings. According to the literature concerning multifamily buildings in Poland, the actual energy savings range between 8.8% and 74.8% of energy savings calculated in audits, depending on the various renovations [35]. In another paper, the economic effects resulting from thermal refurbishment of schools were compared after several operation seasons and were calculated (59-71%), and real savings (33%) differed significantly [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A literature review finds a dearth of empirical studies that illustrate the correlation between the performed retrofitting and the predicted and measured gas consumption, in particular in the case of performance gap observed in buildings with poor energy standard and reduced conditions of thermal comfort. Although similar studies were previously published, they usually referred to other locations and involved simulation data on the energy performance before and after refurbishment [16,19], included shorter observation periods and limited number of buildings [35,36] or discussed other types of objects [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings Equipped with Individual Gas Boilers Due to Thermal Retrofitting

et al. 2021

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The article assesses an impact of thermal retrofitting on an improvement of the energy quality of public buildings in terms of their heating. The analysis covered a group of 14 buildings, including schools, kindergartens or offices, while energy audits were carried out for 12 of them. The indications of individual gas meters were the source of actual data for the assessment of changes in energy consumption indexes in operating conditions. The analysis showed a clear improvement in the energy quality of buildings; however, the actual effects were much lower than forecasted. The average forecasted decrease in energy consumption was supposed to be 64.3%, but the measured data showed only 37.1%. The investigation confirmed that the most complex refurbishing provided the most satisfactory decrease in energy consumption (51.4% of real decrease in energy consumption), while objects with partial thermal refurbishing reached an efficiency of only 21.8%. It was stated that in operating conditions, special attention should be paid to the manner of energy use, since different indicators of energy consumption can be obtained with the same parameters of building’s balance cover. The results obtained can be further utilized in thermal-refurbishment implementation procedures. Follow-up investigations on the impact of selected parameters on energy consumption are planned.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings Equipped with Individual Gas Boilers Due to Thermal Retrofitting

et al. 2021

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“…Work in this domain has demonstrated that, despite technological improvement, increased understanding and better measurement, the gap remains stubbornly common, in both new build (Zero Carbon Hub, 2014a) and retrofit (Cholewa, Balaras, Nizetic, & Siuta-Olcha, 2020). In a longitudinal study over several heating seasons using actual energy consumption data, Cholewa et al (2020) found that the energy consumption of 11 apartment blocks after a retrofit programme varied from 8% to 75% of predicted energy savings. In this case, different processes of retrofit were a partial reason for the wide range but other researchers have attributed the differences to challenges in modelling, occupant behaviour and issues in delivery (Taylor et al, 2018); regulation and policy failures and different priorities amongst large stakeholders (Stevenson, 2019); and processual issues such as unclear responsibility and management issues such as inadequate communication (Zero Carbon Hub, 2014b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging UK repair–maintain–improve practitioners in improved building performance

Murtagh¹,

Owen

Simpson

2021

IJBPA

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PurposeTo improve building performance and meet statutory carbon reduction targets, a radical transformation of existing UK building stock is needed. Much previous research on building performance has focussed on large-scale construction. However, retrofit of existing housing stock – which will contribute the majority of the requisite efficiency improvement – is carried out by practitioners in the repair–maintain–improve (RMI) subsector. These practitioners are the sole traders and micro-firms who constitute two-fifths of employment in the construction sector. The study aims to examine the factors influencing these practitioners in RMI work to understand how better to engage them with improved building performance.Design/methodology/approachA total of 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted with RMI professionals from around the UK and analysed using template analysis.FindingsThe analysis identified capabilities of the practitioners who influence building performance, including knowledge and co-ordination of people and resources; opportunities including state action and customer demand; and motivations including pride in work, customer care and satisfaction, maintaining a viable business and working relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe participants were a small, mixed group in terms of firm size and specialisation. The qualitative approach adopted provided detailed insights but does not make claims for statistical generalisability or representativeness of the findings. Future work could look to extend the findings with a statistically representative survey.Practical implicationsFor a successful transition to high standards of building performance, modelling is not enough. Initiatives are needed to address the multiple factors which determine engagement in energy-efficient retrofit: capacities, opportunities and motivations. The desire of RMI practitioners to meet customer expectations could be used to develop pragmatic building performance evaluation, guided by householder satisfaction criteria.Originality/valueThe study examined the attitudes and experiences of an under-researched sector who are essential to the delivery of improved building performance. This study makes a novel contribution by applying an established psychological model of behaviour change, the capability, opportunity, motivation – behaviour model, for the first time in this domain.

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“…The predicted energy effects calculated as part of the audit are comparable with the actual effects obtained during the building operation following thermal retrofitting. The relations between the expected and obtained values obtained under operational conditions are diverse [8,25,[27][28][29][30]. The predicted energy savings are often achieved; however, the results which are superior to those stated in an audit, are seldom obtained [8,27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Thermal Retrofitting on Annual Energy Demand for Heating in Multi-Family Buildings

2020

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The paper presented the analysis of heat consumption for heating in multi-family residential buildings before and after thermal retrofitting. The analysis involved four groups of buildings, i.e., 43 buildings in total, located in various localities, belonging to one weather station. The predicted level of energy savings resulting from thermal retrofitting was achieved from the energy audits. The actual heat consumption, following the calculation into so-called external standard conditions, was obtained based on the readouts from heat-meters. For each building, the values of heat consumption over the periods of 6–10 years were read. The performance measurements involved the periods before, during, and after thermal retrofitting. The following statistical tests were used for data analysis: Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney, Shapiro–Wilk, Bartlett, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Dunn and Holm post-hoc. The performed analyses showed that the mean value of energy savings predicted by audits reached 38.5% when the real mean value of savings, achieved from heat-meters, equaled 30.3%. The annual energy demand factors for heating were calculated for final energy and non-renewable primary energy factors. It was established that most of the analyzed objects fulfilled the primary energy factor requirements found in the Polish technical and construction regulations, which were valid at the time of investment.

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On calculated and actual energy savings from thermal building renovations – Long term field evaluation of multifamily buildings

Cited by 41 publications

References 39 publications

Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings Equipped with Individual Gas Boilers Due to Thermal Retrofitting

Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings Equipped with Individual Gas Boilers Due to Thermal Retrofitting

Engaging UK repair–maintain–improve practitioners in improved building performance

Influence of Thermal Retrofitting on Annual Energy Demand for Heating in Multi-Family Buildings

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