Application of the Building Height Concept to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling for Saharan Buildings

Application of the Building Height Concept to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling for Saharan Buildings

Abdelaziz Benkhelifa Sidi Mohammed El Amine Bekkouche* Tayeb Allaoui Mohamed Kamal Cherier Maamar Hamdani Redouane Mihoub Rachid Djeffal 

Laboratory of Electrical and Computer Engineering (L2GEGI) Ibn Kaldoun University, BP P78 Zaaroura 14000, Tiaret, Algeria

Unité de Recherche Appliquée en Energies Renouvelables, URAER, Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables, CDER, 47133, Ghardaïa, Algeria

Corresponding Author Email: 
smabekkouche@gmail.com
Page: 
71-78
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.18280/mmc_c.802-405
Received: 
9 April 2019
| |
Accepted: 
25 August 2019
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

The compactness of a building depends on its shape, its size and its contact properties. The main objective of this contribution is to investigate the impact of the building' height on energy needs. The assessment criteria will be based on a well-defined lifestyle and occupancy scenario, the indoor comfort temperature and the required energy consumption. The results obtained from the regression models and their relative simplicity allows them to be used as a tool for estimating energy needs, energy savings and investment-return time. The absence of insulation would result in an energy saving of exactly 26.77%, by raising a single house to one-storey building. It will be more substantial savings (more than 40%) by exceeding the fourth floor. In the case of an insulating layer of 10 cm, an energy gain of 21.17% can be saved by varying a single house to one-storey building. The reduction in energy needs exceeds 35% but remains below 38.5% for buildings which are over three storeys high. Generally, the investment-return time is between 49 months and 44 months, and it is inversely proportional to the number of storeys in the dwelling. It is therefore necessary to favor large buildings to rationalize energy consumption.

Keywords: 

energy needs, compactness, thermal insulation, building height concept, storeys, energy saving, investment-return time

1. Introduction

The intensive use of energies from exhaustible natural resources has motivated some scientists to propose experimental environmental works on atmospheric emissions in urban areas [1]. In this context, the geometry of thermal structures is an essential factor in determining the reached comfort. The shape factor is a measure of the building’s compactness. According to a literature review, several contributions have revealed that the building design has a significant effect on both the thermal performance and energy needs. Martaa and Belinda [2] have proposed a simplified model to expect heating and cooling energy needs for a building subject to a Spanish climate. They reported that the compactness factor is one of the determining and preponderant factors. Li et al. [3] have provided some guidelines which enable to compute shape compactness based on the inertia moment. As expected in reference [4], it is proved that the stated concepts that have a direct link with the geometric properties can improve the energy efficiency in buildings. In 2012, on the basis of the research studies achieved by Parasonis et al. [5], it has been indicated that the relationship between the building shape and its energy performance was significant. On the one hand, the geometric efficiency depends both on its dimensions and proportions; on the other hand heat losses through the envelope elements constitute a large part of the total energy needs. However, in some Algerian sites, such as Algiers and Ghardaïa, optimal compactness is an additional measure to consider; increasing the compactness index has a contrasting effect, negative for the heating and positive for the cooling, meanwhile, the savings for cooling needs are larger than the disadvantage of increased heating needs [6]. Other research work, conducted by Ourghi et al. [7] allowed us to obtain an analysis tool to predict the effect of the geometric shape for an office on its annual cooling and total energy use. The same objective was addressed by AlAnzi et al. [8]. The studies take into account several building forms including rectangular, L-shape, U-shape, and H-shape. For this purpose, a compactness index was used to assess the impact of shape on the energy efficiency of office buildings. Furthermore, in previous work, Danielski et al. [9] have shown that designing buildings with lower shape factor will result in lower specific heat demand; the impact of this parameter factor varies significantly as function of different thermal envelope properties for different climate circumstances. For an appropriate occupation scenario, the change in specific heat demand varied from 12 to 52 kWh/m2/year. The shape factor has a sensible impact on this specific heat demand with lower thermal properties and for cold climates.

Additionally, a large number of contributions have used only roof area to calculate the energy saving of green roofs. The main objective pursued by Park [10] was to conclude the most effective building to install green roofs in Harrisburg. All finding results demonstrated that indoor temperature of buildings and energy demands are affected by building shapes. An experimental study was carried out to determine the relationship between building compactness and indoor temperature after the integration of green roofs during the summer season. The approach adopted was based on four physical models tested for 54 days. Indoor temperatures can be reduced by 8.1 °C for a less compact building compared to a more compact building (4.6 °C). These results are more apparent on warm days. Another paper [11] aims to set a new understanding for building compactness assessment which can contribute to originate building morphologies in terms of comfort and thermal performance. On the basis of the cost optimal level methodology, some authors [12] have announced that the choice of the best energy efficiency measures underlined the importance of the building typology. Another research work led by Kadraoui et al [13] confirmed that the building envelope is the main source of heat loss. The integration of passive architectural concepts (such as compactness) is required to improve the building's energy performance.

In the field study of thermal buildings, a change in the size, particularly the concept height, without variation of the ceiling and floor surfaces, systematically causes a change in compactness index. This article wants to emphasize the effect of the building compactness by addressing such issues as the height of buildings and the different contact modes with the external environment. The assessment criteria will be based on a well-defined lifestyle and occupancy scenario, the indoor comfort temperature and the required energy consumption expressed in Kwh/year/m2. It should be noted that the few existing works in these severe conditions (Saharan climate) do not deal properly with the problem. In addition, the uniqueness and asset of this contribution consist in applying a specific method to label any building and estimate energy needs. The combination of different approaches provided a new performing model.

2. Ghardaïa Climate and Case Studies

Ghardaïa (latitude 32.48° N, longitude 3.80° E) has a hot, dry and desert climate, the region is noticeable by large temperature differences with a clarity index of 0.8. It has a very important rate of insolation (75% on average) and the mean annual of global solar radiation measured on horizontal plane exceeds 20 (MJ/m2). The sunshine duration is more than 3000 hours per year, which promotes the use of solar energy in various fields [14]. The lowest sunshine duration is registered in December with 234.5 hours; the highest values were recorded during July with 337.3 hours. The average sunshine duration between 2000 and 2009 was 3391.20 hours per year i.e. approximately 9 hours per day. The annual average temperature is about 22.61°C. Minimum temperatures of the coldest month are observed during the month of January with 5.5°C, while maximum temperatures of the warmest month are observed during the month of July with 41.7°C [15]. The relative humidity is very low; it is of the order of 21.60% in July, reaching a maximum of 55.80 % in January and an annual average of 38.33% [16].

The proposed study is focused on a residential building subjected to the Ghardaïa climate. This building has a living space of 92 m2 (72.62% of the total area), the height of the walls is 3 m. Detailed overviews of the descriptive plan of this building are given in Figure 1. The different configurations of the roofs, ground and opaque walls are illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Descriptive plane, 2D and 3D Building modelling: Ground floor building and construction of single-to-four storey building

3. Energy-Balance Model

Figure 2. Masonry composition and building material proprieties

The energy balance has to deal with the physical parameters, thermal properties, building design, climatic conditions…etc.

In the heating season and during inter-seasons, consumption and heating energy needs for buildings are given by the following formula [17-18]:

${{Q}_{\text{Needs}}}=\,\,\,\left| \begin{align}  & \, \\ & \,\,{{Q}_{Envelop}}\,\text{-}\left( \,{{\text{Q}}_{\text{Occup}}}+{{Q}_{Elc}}\, \right)\,\,\pm {{Q}_{\text{Solar}}}\, \\\end{align} \right|+{{\text{Q}}_{\text{DHW}}}+{{\text{Q}}_{\text{tot }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ elec }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ appl}}}$  (1)

In the cooling season, equation 2 has to be used [17-18]:

${{Q}_{\text{Needs}}}=\,{{Q}_{Envelop}}\,+\left( \,{{\text{Q}}_{\text{Occup}}}+{{Q}_{Elc}} \right)\,\,+{{\text{Q}}_{\text{DHW}}}+{{\text{Q}}_{\text{tot }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ elec }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ appl}}}+{{Q}_{\text{Solar}}}$   (2)

3.1 Energetic needs due to the building thermal envelope

Heating or/and cooling needs due to the building thermal envelope are defined by equation 3 [17-18]:

${{Q}_{Envelop}}=\,\,\,24\,\,D{{P}_{envelop}}\,\,Dj$   (3)

Detailed calculations are provided in reference [19-20].

DPenvelop: envelope and ventilation heat losses (W/K).

Dj: numbers of degree-days.

3.2 Domestic hot water "DHW" Requirements

To compute the DHW needs, the calculation should be based on the equation below. In any event, it is considered that the required volume of the hot water is 50 litters of hot water at 50 °C per day per person. Energy needs for the DHW production is given by the following equation [17-18]:

${{\text{Q}}_{\text{DHW}}}\text{ }=\text{ }\,\text{1}\text{.1628}\,\,\,{{\text{V}}_{\text{DHW}}}\,\,\,\text{N}{{\text{b}}_{\text{occup}}}\,\,\,\,\left( \,{{\text{T}}_{\text{DHW}}}\text{ - }{{\text{T}}_{\text{CW}}} \right)$   (4)

QDHW: energy needs required to produce DHW for one day, in Wh

VDHW: required volume of the hot water (litters)

Nboccp: number of persons occupying the building

TDHW: temperature of the hot water at the filling point (°C).

TCW: average monthly temperature of the cold water entering the storage tank or the DHW production coil (instant production).

3.3 Internal heat gains

The human being diffuses radiations in sensible (by the body at 37°C) and latent (by the production of water vapor via respiration and perspiration) heat form. Different values are given in the literature [17-18], the heat diffusion (W) from the occupants' activities are given by Table 1. The general equation that gives the values of internal gains is given by the following expression:

${{\text{Q}}_{\text{Occup}}}\text{ }=Cp\,\,\text{N}{{\text{b}}_{\text{occup}}}\,\,{{\text{D}}_{\text{pres/day}}}\,\,\text{N}{{\text{b}}_{\text{heated }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ days}}}$   (5)

Cp: the amount of heat given off by occupant (W/occupant).

Dpres/day: the period of presence during the day (h/day).

Nbheated_days: Number of heated days (days/year).

The total amount of heat released by both equipment and lighting is determined according to the use and ignition mode of these electrical appliances. In this context, average values (default values) were adopted to define the internal loads in a building (Table 2).

Table 1. Cp & radiated heat per person [17-18]

Examples of activities

Heat diffusion per person (sensible and latent)

Static sitting activities (read and write)

120W

Simple works that can be done either sitting or standing, laboratory work, typewriter...

150W

Light physical activities

190

Medium to difficult bodily activities

More than 200W

Table 2. Cp & radiated heat per person [17-18]

 

Duration (hours) and operating power modes (Watts)

Energy

(Wh)

Mode 1

Number of hours

Mode 2

Number of hours

LCD TV + Integrated demo

20

19

78

5

1540

Refrigerator

Total par jour

552

Lighting

75

21.75

 

 

1631.3

Flat screen computer

32

2

186

4

808

Other

 

 

 

 

1200

Total par jour

5731.3

3.4 Internal heat gains

Three input data must be taken into account according 1200 to Table 3.

Pelec_5731.3appl: the power of electrical appliances (W).

Nbhours: the number of hours when the device is in an operational state during the day.

Nbdays: the number of days when the device is in an operational state during the year. Calculation, in kilowatt-hours, shall be as follows:

${{\text{Q}}_{\text{tot }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ elec }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ appl}}}\text{ }=\text{ N}{{\text{b}}_{\text{hours}}}\,\,\,\text{N}{{\text{b}}_{\text{days}}}\frac{{{\text{P}}_{\text{elec }\!\!\_\!\!\text{ appl}}}}{\text{1000}}$   (6)

Table 3. Average energy consumption per day for electrical appliances [17-18]

Type of equipment

Power (W)

Duration of the use per day (h & min)

Average daily consumption (Wh)

Power (W)

Power (W)

LCD TV with integrated demo

In service

90 to 250

140

5h

1514.0

Standby mode

3

/

19h

Refrigerator 250 liters capa city

150 to 200

/

Continuously

551.0

Lighting: 12 low-cost lamps

2: sitting room

14

/

6h

304.5

1: Room 1

3h

1: Room 2

4h

1: Hall

1h

1: Kitchen

3h

1: WC

45mn

1: SDB

2h

1: corridor

1h

2: above the 2 doors

45mn

1: Terrace

15mn

F1at screen computer

In service

70 to 80

75

4h

306.0

Standby mode

3

/

2h

GSM charger

5

/

3h

15.06

Iron

750 to 1100

925

7min

107.9

Vacuum cleaner

650 to 800

720

12 min

144.00

Radio alarm

3 to 6

4.5

Continuously

108.00

Electric razor

8 to 12

10

6min

1

Hair dryer

300 to 600

450

5 min

37.50

Washing machine

2500 to 3000

2800

30mn

1400

Total time per day (Wh)

4488.9/Day

3.5 Passive solar gains

The solar gains depend on the incident solar radiation, the orientation of the receiving surfaces and some characteristics such as: shading, transmission and absorption coefficients. This energy gain will be calculated according to the following equation [17, 19]:

${{\text{Q}}_{\text{Solar}}}\text{ }=\text{ }\sum\limits_{\text{j}}{\,\,{{\text{I}}_{\text{Sj}}}}\sum\limits_{\text{n}}{\,\,{{\left( \,\text{A}\,\,{{\text{F}}_{\text{Shad}}}\,\,{{F}_{\operatorname{Re}d}}\,\,g\, \right)}_{\,nj}}}$  (7)

The first sum is made on all orientations j; the second is applicable on all surfaces n in different orientations "j"

IS: solar irradiation per area unit (Wh/m2)

FRed: reduction factor for window frames, equal to the ratio of the transparent surface of the window to its total area; its value is set at 0.8

FShad: shading factor; its value is set at 0.7

g: solar factor of the bay window; its value is set at 0.8 for single-glazed windows.

4. Compactness and Building Height Concept, Comparative Analysis of Energy Consumption

Before proceeding with the comparative study, it is preferable to draw up a summary table (4) giving the common energy parameters of all the cases to be studied. The attention paid to the average outside air temperature of the month in question, comfort temperature which was set between 21 and 26 °C, monthly temperature of the cold water, passive solar gain, monthly values of internal gains, energetic hot water needs of a single-family home and the equivalent electricity consumption for one family home. The other selected input parameters are as follows: TDHW = 50 °C, Cp = 150 W, Nboccp = 5, Dpres/day = 15 h, the glass surface amount to about 95% of the window area, FShad = 0.7 for south orientation, FRed = 0.8 and g = 0.8.

Table 4. Monthly values of the common energy parameters of all the cases to be studied

 

Tout

Tconf

Tcw

Qsolar

Internal heat gains (kWh)

QbHw (kWh)

QElec (kWh)

Qoccup

QElc

January

10.1000

21.0000

7.0000

394.5667

348.7500

177.6703

387.5031

139.1559

February

12.3000

21.0000

9.0000

338.8108

315.0000

160.4764

333.7236

125.6892

March

15.3000

21.0000

11.5000

323.4353

348.7500

177.6703

346.9504

139.1559

April

20.0000

21.0000

13.0000

0

337.5000

171.9390

322.6770

134.6670

May

24.5000

24.5000

16.0000

0

348.7500

177.6703

306.3978

139.1559

June

29.7000

26.0000

19.0000

0

337.5000

171.9390

270.3510

134.6670

July

33.4000

26.0000

21.0000

0

348.7500

177.6703

261.3393

139.1559

August

32.7000

26.0000

20.0000

0

348.7500

177.6703

270.3510

139.1559

September

27.8000

26.0000

17.5000

0

337.5000

177.9390

283.4325

134.6670

October

20.7000

21.0000

15.0000

0

348.7500

177.6703

315.4095

139.1559

November

14.4000

21.0000

11.0000

354.1864

337.5000

171.9390

340.1190

134.6670

December

10.7000

21.0000

8.0000

348.3617

348.7500

177.6703

378.4914

139.1559

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.8167 103

1.6384 103

4.1 Without thermal insulation

Table 5. Monthly and annual energy needs to maintain comfort between 21 and 26 °C

n

1

R+1

2

R+2

3

R+3

4

R+4

5

R+5

6

R+6

7

R+7

8

R+8

9

R+9

10

R+10

11

R+11

12

R+12

13

S/V

0.6901

0.5234

0.4679

0.4401

0.4234

0.4123

0.4044

0.3984

0.3938

0.3901

0.3871

0.3846

0.3824

Jan

7404

10277

13150

16022

18895

21767

24640

27512

30385

33258

36130

39003

41875

Feb

5258

7250

9242

11234

13226

15218

17210

19202

21193

23185

25177

27169

29161

Mar

3694

5025

6355

7685

9015

10346

11676

13006

14337

15667

16997

18327

19658

Apr

632

964

1646

2327

3008

3690

4371

5052

5734

6415

7097

7778

8459

May

972

1944

2916

3888

4860

5832

6804

7776

8748

9720

10692

11664

12636

Jun

3473

5449

7424

9399

11374

13349

15324

17299

19274

21250

23225

25200

27175

Jul

6285

9417

12549

15682

18814

21946

25078

28211

31343

34475

37607

40740

43872

Aug

5774

8705

11635

14566

17496

20426

23357

26287

29218

32148

35078

38009

40939

Sep

2165

3607

5049

6491

7933

9375

10816

12258

13700

15142

16584

18026

19468

Oct

769

1662

2554

3447

4340

5232

6125

7018

7910

8803

9695

10588

11481

Nov

4163

5676

7188

8700

10212

11724

13236

14749

16261

17773

19285

20797

22309

Dec

7009

9736

12463

1.519

17917

20644

23371

26098

28825

31552

34279

37006

39733

Tot (kWh/year)

47600

69711

92170

114630

137090

159550

182010

204470

226930

249390

271850

294310

316770

Tot/S (kWh/m2/year)

375.72

275.12

|242.51

226.2

216.42

209.89

205.23

201.74

199.02

196.85

195.07

193.59

192.33

n: the number of family houses in the entire building. S: The outer surface of the walls (m2). V: total volume of the entire building (m3). S/V: the compactness index

The approach is based on an in-depth study of the difference between several identical family houses. This similarity concerns the entire characteristics: thermo-physical properties of the building envelope, structural element dimensions, occupant lifestyles and their desired comfort temperatures. The only difference is in its implantation in the building. The results that will be provided will therefore be expressed in kWh/m2/an. These unit values represent the average annual energy requirements even for a family home located in the same building. It is reminded that each house of the same building is characterized by the same properties previously announced. The calculation program designed for this purpose gives us the opportunity to calculate the energy needs of a house exposed at all levels. It is also feasible to study buildings containing several floors and family houses. Table 5 provides results for calculating monthly and annual energy requirements of the different cases. In this regard, a comparison can be made between a single-family home at all levels and a multi-family building, including the number of floors in question.

In order to perform a consistent comparative study, the method would refer to the various buildings shown in figure 1, going up to the twelfth floor.

Figure 3. Energy needs according to the number of floors and building labeling scheme (kWh/m2/year)

Energy needs vary linearly in accordance with compactness index; the corresponding equation is shown in the figure. The difference between the total energy loads is sometimes radical; these buildings will join the constructions that have an energy label of type F, E or D. This indicates that in this case, it is necessary to favor large buildings to rationalize energy consumption. In addition, the obtained results indicate that the convergence of values (by increasing the number of floors, i.e. by improving the building compactness and reducing the compactness index) towards smaller values was very fast at first, but beyond a certain level, this convergence will not become interesting. To be more precise, it was necessary to trace the variation in energy savings according to the number of floors (figure 4).

In comparison with the values in the above figure, it has been found that an energy saving of exactly 26.77% can be achieved just by varying a single house to one-storey building. By crossing the fourth-storey building, i.e. for a construction with five family houses (n = 5), it will have more substantial savings that exceed 40% but with a clear stability of the values. This variation is translated by a polynomial regression model of order 6.

4.2 With thermal insulation

In this section, the same research work is conducted with an external integration of a thermal insulation covering the whole envelope surface (thermal conductivity l= 0.04 W/m K, and a thickness of 10 cm). Table 6 summarizes the calculation results regarding the monthly and annual energy needs in different cases. Accordingly, the comparative study between the different buildings (up to the eleven storey building) is shown in figures 5 and 6.

Figure 4. Annual energy savings according to the number of floors by referring to the single family house exposed to all levels

The obtained results generally raise the same remarks. The regression equation shows that the variation between energy needs and compactness index is also linear.

With the exception of the first case (only one family house exposed at all levels), the others can be integrated in the buildings that have an energy label of "type C". It was reconfirmed that it was essential to privilege large building constructions. Similarly, the convergence towards smaller values was at first very fast and beyond a certain level this convergence will not become interesting. On the basis of the calculated data, an energy gain of exactly 21.17% can be saved by varying a single house to one-storey building. This value seems less important compared to the first case but it is still interesting in terms of energy saving. On the three storey building, the reduction in energy use exceeds 35% but remains below 38.5%. This variation is translated by a precise regression polynomial model of order 6. Otherwise, it is possible to study the relationship between thermal insulation and compactness. This is the reason why we are led to trace the variation of the energy consumption reduction due to the thermal insulation as a function of the compactness index (Figure 7).

Table 6. Monthly and annual energy needs to maintain comfort between 21 and 26 °C, case of a building envelope insulated by 10 cm thick

n

1

R+l

2

R+2

3

R+3

4

R+4

5

R+5

6

R+6

7

R+7

8

R+8

9

R+9

10

R+10

11

R+11

12

R+12

13

S/V

0.6901

0.5234

0.4679|

0.4401

0.4234

0.4123

0.4044

0.3984

0.3938

0.3901

0.3871

0.3846

0.3824

Jan

2621.3|

3614.3

4607.2|

5600.2

6593

7586

8579

09572

10565

11558

12551

13544

14537

Feb

1812.1

2451.4

3090.6

3729.9

4369

5008

5648

06287

06926

07565

08205

08844

09483

Mar;

1197.2

|1548.7

1900.1

2251.6

2603

2954

3500

04120

04741

05362

05983

06603

07224

Apr

0706.2

1553.1

2400

3247

4094

4941

5788

06635

7482

08329

09175

10022

10869

May

0972

1943.9

2915.9

3887.9

4860

5832

6804

07776

8748

09720

10692

11664

12636

Jun

1905.7

3266.9

4628.2

5989.4

7351

8712

10073

11434

12796

14157

15518

16879

18241

Jul

3041.1

4900.9

6760.7

8620.4

10480

12340

14200

16060

17919

19779

21639

23499

25358

Aug

2838.3

4617.2

6396.1|

8175

9954

11733

13512

15291

17070

18849

20627

22406

24185

Sep

1402.6

2546.4

3690.1

4833.9

5978

7121

8265

9409

10553

11696

12840

13984

15128

Oct

0900.5

1844.4

2788.3

3732.2

4676

5620

6564

7508

8452

09396

10339

11283

12227

Nov

1364.5

1779.1

2193.6

2608.2

3023

3437

3852

4266

4681

05096

05510

05925

06339

Dec

2490.4

3442.1

4393.7

5345.4

6297

7249

8200

9152

10104

11055

12007

12958

13910

Tot(kWh/year)

21252

33508

45765

58021

70277

82534

94984

107510

120040

132560

145090

157610

170140

TotS(kWh/m2/year)

167.75|

132.24

120.41

114.49

|110.94

108.58

107.1

106.07

105.27|

104.63

104.11

103.67

103.3

The advantage of the external thermal insulation is to increase significantly the overall thermal performance of the building, which promotes a significant reduction in heating and cooling costs and improves thermal comfort. It has also been found that this advantage gradually decreases by improving the building compactness (by adding additional floors). This aspect can be translated by the nonlinear curve indicated in the previous figure. Furthermore, at the beginning, the decrease is consistent, considering a two-storey building (energy saving of 55.35%) instead of a single family home (energy saving of 51.93 %), a difference of 3.42% can be seen. This gap will be quickly amortized; it becomes 0.47% from a four-story building to a five-storey building and 0.16% from an eleven-story building to a twelve-storey building.

To integrate this passive concept, it is compulsory to study the techno-economic aspect which must therefore have a particular interest in these similar situations. This is the reason why we will be interested in the return time on investment. The method consists firstly in estimating the total cost resulting from the isolation procedure by adding the total cost of the isolation procedure defined by the sum of the polystyrene price and the cost of all insulation works (3000 DZD/m2), and the annual energy bill. The retained price of a polystyrene plate (5 cm thick layer and 2 m2 of surface area) is fixed at 600 DZD.

The variation of the return time on investment, expressed by the number of months, is the ratio of the extra cost (the total cost of the isolation procedure – the initial bill without thermal insulation) multiplied by 12 and the annual financial gain which is defined by the difference between the initial bill (without thermal insulation) and the energy bill in the case of thermal insulation. Figure 8 focuses on the effectiveness of this passive aspect and their financial impact on the investment-return time.

The figure indicates that the investment-return time decreases slightly by transiting to a building with an upper floor. In this respect, it is worth noting that it took 4 years and 5 days to recover the expensed amount for a 10 cm layer of thermal insulation in the case of a single house. For a single storey building, it is possible to reduce this period to only 3 years, 10 months and 27 days. By changing a single-storey building to a two-storey building, the investment-return time will be decreased by 22 additional days. For higher floors, it will be possible to obtain greater savings but with a better stability. Generally, the investment-return time is between 49 months and 44 months.

Figure 5. Energy needs according to the number of floors and building labeling scheme (kWh/m2/year), case of a building envelope insulated by 10 cm thick

Figure 6. Annual energy savings according to the number of floors by referring to the single family house exposed to all levels, case of a building envelope insulated by 10 cm thick

Figure 7. Decrease in energy needs due to thermal insulation (10 cm) as a function of the building compactness index

 

Figure 8. Variation of the return time on investment according to the cost of the number of floors 

5. Finding Conclusions

The main objective of this accomplished research work is to examine the impact of the building height concept on energy needs. It takes into account the variation of the depreciative surfaces in contact with the external environments. According to the results, and under several conditions, compactness can contribute to the improvement of thermal comfort and to the minimization of the energy requirements. The contact mode and the height of the building influence the building energy demand.

The compactness index defined as the ratio between the envelope surface and the inner volume of the building. The running of reliable prediction models and their relative simplicity allow them to be used as a tool for estimating the different physical quantities (energy needs, energy savings and investment-return time). Optimal compactness results in minimal thermal losses, that are why, to compensate the increased energy needs due to the lower compactness of the building, one can, increase the insulation level of the building envelope.

The absence of insulation would result in an energy saving of exactly 26.77%, by raising a single house to one-storey building. It will be more substantial savings (more than 40%) by exceeding the fourth floor. In the case of an insulating layer of 10 cm, an energy gain of 21.17% can be saved by varying a single house to one-storey building. The reduction in energy needs exceeds 35% but remains below 38.5% for buildings which are over three storeys high.

Generally, the investment-return time is between 49 months and 44 months, and it is inversely proportional to the number of storeys in the dwelling.

Optimal compactness serves to minimize the energy needs of the buildings, which will systematically reduce the required level of thermal insulation. It is therefore necessary to favor large buildings to rationalize energy consumption.

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