In this paper we evaluate the thermal performance of a range of modern wall constructions used in the residential buildings of Tehran in order to find the most appropriate alternative to the traditional un-fired clay and brick materials, which are increasingly being replaced in favor of more slender wall constructions employing hollow clay, autoclaved aerated concrete or light expanded clay aggregate blocks. The importance of improving the building envelope through estimating the potential for energy saving due to the application of the most energy-efficient wall type is presented and the wall constructions currently erected in Tehran are introduced along with their dynamic and steady-state thermal properties. The application of a dynamic simulation tool is explained and the output of the thermal simulation model is compared with the dynamic thermal properties of the wall constructions to assess their performance in summer and in winter. Finally, the best and worst wall type in terms of their cyclic thermal performance and their ability to moderate outdoor conditions is identified through comparison of the predicted indoor temperature and a target comfort temperature.
References
[1]
Energy & Electricity Planning Committee. Energy Database for Iran for Year 2011–2012; Department of Energy: Tehran, Iran, 2013.
[2]
Tehran: Electric Demand Management Bureau Online Reports, 2013. Available online: http://edsm.tavanir.org.ir/motaleaate_modireyyate_masraf/olgoo-khanegi.asp (accessed on 12 July 2013).
[3]
Tehran: Statistical Centre of Iran Online Reports, 2011. Available online: http://www.sci.org.ir/SitePages/report_90/population_report.aspx (accessed on 12 July 2013).
[4]
Building and Housing Research Centre (BHRC). New Construction Technologies. BHRC: Tehran, Iran, 2010. Available online: http://www.bhrc.ac.ir/portal/Default.aspx?tabid=668 (accessed on 12 July 2013).
[5]
Khabar Online (Iranian News Website). Available online: http://www.khabaronline.ir/detail/218221/ (accessed on 12 July 2013).
[6]
Nasrollahi, F. Urban and Architectural Criteria for Reducing Building Energy Consumption; National Energy Committee of Iran: Tehran, Iran, 2012.
[7]
Bureau for Compiling and Promoting National Regulations for Buildings. Code No. 19: Energy Efficiency; Ministry of Housing and Urbanism IRI: Isfahan, Iran, 2010.
[8]
Fayaz, R.; Mohammadkari, B. Comparison of energy conservation building codes of Iran, Turkey, Germany, China, ISO 9164 and EN 832. Appl. Energy？2009, 86, 1949–1955, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2008.12.024.
[9]
Crawley, D.B.; Jon, W.H.; Kummert, M.; Griffith, B.T. Contrasting the capabilities of building energy performance simulation programs. Build. Environ.？2008, 43, 661–673, doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2006.10.027.
[10]
Building Research Establishment (BRE). UK National Calculation Method; BRE: Watford, UK. Available online: http://www.ncm.bre.co.uk/ (accessed on 12 July 2013).
[11]
ASHRAE Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy; ASHRAE: Atlanta, GA, USA, 2010.
[12]
ISO 7730: Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment—Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Thermal Comfort Using Calculation of the PMV and PPD Indices and Local Thermal Comfort Criteria; ISO: Brussels, Belgium, 2005.
[13]
Heidari, Sh. Comfort temperature for Iranian people in the city of Tehran. Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba？2009, 1, 5–14.
[14]
McMullan, R. Environmental Science in Buildings, 6th ed. ed.; Palgrave Macmillan: New York, NY, USA, 2007.
[15]
Clay Brick and Paver Institute. The Role of Thermal Mass in Energy-Efficient House Design; Austral Bricks: Langford, Australia, 2006.
[16]
Gregory, K.; Moghtaderi, B.; Sugo, H.; Page, A. Effect of thermal mass on the thermal performance of various Australian residential constructions systems. Energy Build.？2008, 40, 459–465, doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.04.001.
[17]
Balaras, C.A. The role of thermal mass on the cooling load of buildings: An overview of computational methods. Energy Build.？1996, 24, 1–10, doi:10.1016/0378-7788(95)00956-6.
[18]
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Environmental Design: CIBSE Guide A, 7th ed. ed.; CIBSE: London, UK, 2006.
[19]
De Saulles, T. Thermal Mass Explained; CentER (The Concrete Centre): Camberley, UK, 2011.
[20]
Kruger, E.; Cruz, E.G.; Givoni, B. Effectiveness of indirect evaporative cooling and thermal mass in a hot arid climate. Build. Environ.？2010, 45, 1422–1433, doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.12.005.
Nicol, J.F.; Humphreys, M.A. Adaptive thermal comfort and sustainable thermal standards for buildings. Energy Build.？2002, 34, 563–572, doi:10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00006-3.
[23]
Hegger, M.; Fuchs, M.; Stark, Th.; Zeumer, M. Energy Manual: Sustainable Architecture; Birkhauser: Berlin, Germany, 2008.
[24]
Givoni, B. Climate Considerations in Building and Urban Design; Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York, NY, USA, 1998.
