Conference Paper

Proceedings of BauSim Conference 2010: 3rd Conference of IBPSA-Germany and Austria

Thermal inertia for small scale residential building

Stijn Verbeke

Abstract: A virtual experiment is set up in order to asses the impact of building thermal mass in small scale residential architecture. Yearly energy demand for space heating and appreciation of occupant thermal comfort are simulated using whole building simulation tool EnergyPlus in conjunction with Matlab. In order to mimic real life occupant behavior accurately, a stochastic occupant behavior schedule is generated, including a window opening algorithm to reduce overheating. The results for Belgian climatic conditions indicate that on average, a lightweight building demands 4.5% more heating energy compared to a heavyweight equivalent, and has a level of discomfort which is 20.5% higher. Overall, the impact of thermal inertia is secondary to other design parameters such as insulation level and glazing properties.
Pages: 361 - 368
Paper: