This diploma thesis describes possibilities of thermal insulation of a detached house and choice optimization of insulating materials especially based on economic and ecologic factors. The thesis describes basic physical effects that are associated with heat transfer and that should be respected in insulation design. These effects influence the choice of suitable insulating materials based on their properties.

This diploma thesis is focused on material and technical alternatives of the building envelope and heating of low energy houses and passive houses. The theoretical part is focused on main principles of designing low-energy building standards. The practical part is aimed to the best economic and technical solution of new buildings in low energy and passive standard on a particular case. At the end of thesis the evaluation of the best design options is performed.

The world is currently submerged in two big problems: supply energy crisis and climate change. It is clear that society has to do its best to overcome these challenges, and one effective way to mitigate their effects is by conducting an energy audit, which helps to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the buildings, enabling improvements in their thermal efficiency.  The main goal of this study was to carry out an energy audit on a century-old single- family house located in a city in the middle of Sweden. To achieve this, relevant data of the building was gathered such as the bills and some temperature and dimension measurements. Subsequently, the calculations of the energy losses and gains were done manually. From this step it was observed that almost 70 % of the thermal losses occurred due to transmission through the walls, windows and roof. To reduce these losses, potential energy-saving measures were studied, such as replacing the 2-panel windows with 3-panel windows and adding 200 mm of mineral wool to the roof. Both improvements reduced transmission losses around 700 kWh/year and diminished CO2 emissions around 20 kg/year, which implied a decrease of 1262 and 1277 SEK per year for each measure respectively. However, the profitability of these measures was difficult to attain because the required initial capitals are probably higher than the investments allowed, which are around 17371 and 17579 SEK for each measure respectively.  Moreover, a study about installing photovoltaic solar cells was conducted and it resulted in a significant positive impact in the energy usage of the house. In particular, this improvement lead to a reduction of 2471 kWh per year, which equaled to an annual decrease of 6036 SEK. These annual savings implied an investment allowed of 58620 SEK. Furthermore, a decrease of 99 kg of CO2 emissions per year was obtained. In conclusion, this measure yielded substantial profitability, making it the most recommended option for future energy-saving improvements.  Finally, changing in the occupant’s behavior by reducing the indoor temperature had a positive impact on the house without the need for an initial investment. Specifically, it decreased around 105 kWh per year.

Building energy usage can be derived and controlled by performing building energy modeling. BEM can be performed using numerous software tools such as DesignBuilder, OpenStudio, EnergyPlus etc. These modeling tools can be sorted into three different modeling categories: Black-box, Gray-box and White-box. It is important for a modeler to be able to quickly select the proper tool from the proper category to meet the need of the project. To validate the method of categorizing tools, the three models generated using tools from each category and the modeling outputs required were compared. Each model was designed to estimate the amount of heat transfer through building envelope elements. All the modeling tools were able to generate the required output, therefore, the method for selecting the most effective tool will be based on the output requirements and the time it takes to build the model, time it takes to generate the output and interpret the output.

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För att minska energiförbrukningen i Sverige krävs att befintliga byggnaderen ergieffektiviseras. Det finns även befintliga lokaler i landet som är i behov av en sänkt energiförbrukning. Det sker ständigt initiativ kring arbete med energieffektivisering av framför allt bostadshus. När energiförbrukning ska sänkas i industrilokaler läggs fokus på att minska energiåtgången i de invändigaprocesserna men inte i det omgivande klimatskalet där transmissionen utgör en stor del av energiläckaget. Syftet med arbetet är att öka kunskapen om energieffektiva åtgärder vid renovering av klimatskal hos industrilokaler. Målet ä ratt ta fram olika lösningsförslag som reducerar energiläckaget vid renovering av befintliga industrilokaler anpassat till projektet Dalern. Projektet Dalern är en byggnad uppförd på Åland vid 1990 som används vid fallstudie av förbättrade tekniska lösningar. I rapporten behandlas följande tre frågeställningar. Vilka metoder finns för att energieffektivisera klimatskal hos industrilokaler? Vilka alternativ är mest energieffektiva? Vilka tekniska lösningar skulle fungera i projektet Dalern? För att besvara dessa frågeställningar har en litteraturstudie över vanliga, energisparande renoveringsmetoder utförts. Dokumentstudier har genomförts av referensobjektet Dalerns ritningar. Studien har resulterat i en fallstudie där olika åtgärder beräknats för att se vilka potentialer det finns att energieffektivisera klimatskalet. De resultat som framkommit av arbetet är att det finns många olika metoder att energieffektivisera framför allt husbyggnader. De åtgärder som ger en mest energieffektiv besparing är framför allt byte av fönster och dörrar samt tilläggsisolering av tak och väggar. I fallstudien har olika åtgärder beräknats med handberäkning och med hjälp av energiberäkningsprogrammet VIP-Energy. Byggnadsdelar, möten mellan byggnadsdelar och hela referensobjektets energianvändning har beräknats. Eftersom rapportens tyngdpunkt är energieffektivisering har värmeövergång, köldbryggor och specifik energianvändning beräknats med omsorg. Andra faktorer som tagits hänsyn till är fukt, lufftäthet och brand. Uträkningen i energiberäkningsprogrammet har resulterat i att referensobjektets genomsnittliga värmeövergång kan minska med cirka 30 % vid användning av rätt åtgärder. Referensobjektets specifika energianvändning kan minskas med cirka 33% efter åtgärder som enbart berör klimatskalet. / It’s necessary to make existing buildings more energy efficient in order to reduce the energy consumption in Sweden. There are also existing premises in the country which are in need of reduced energy consumption. Initiatives on energy efficiency takes place continuously. Particularly in residential buildings. When the energy consumption is to be reduced in industrial facilities, the focus is on reducing the consumption of the internal processes. The building envelope where the transmission is a major energy leakage is often forgotten. The purpose is to increase the knowledge of energy-efficient renovation of industrial facilities. The project Dalern is an industrial facility which was built in Åland in 1990. The building is used in a case study of improved technical solutions. Three following questions are covered by this report. Which methods are available to make the building envelope of industrial facilities more energy efficient? Which options are most energy efficient? Which technical solutions would work in the project Dalern? A literature study of common, energy-saving renovation techniques has been implemented to answer the questions above. Document studies have also been implemented on the project Dalern. The document studies have resulted in a case study where different actions have been calculated to see what potential there is to improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope. The result that has emerged from the work is that there are many different methods to improve energy efficiency, especially in residential buildings. The actions that provide the most energy efficient savings are primarily replacement of windows and doors as well as additional insulation of walls and roofs. In the case study, various actions have been calculated using hand calculations and with use of an energy calculation program called VIP-Energy. Structures, meetings between building components and the entire reference object’s energy consumption have been calculated. Heat transfer, thermal bridges and specific energy has been calculated with care since the report’s emphasis is energy efficiency. Other factors that has been taken in consideration are moist, air leakage and fire. The calculation in VIP-Energy has resulted in the reference object’s average heat transfer can be reduced by about 30 % when using the correct actions. The reference object’s specific energy consumption can be reduced by approximately 33 %. These reductions were affected only by actions that concern the building envelope.

Le secteur du bâtiment représente 35% des la consommations énergétiques dans les pays membres de l’agence international de l’énergie en 2010 et 39,8% aux Etats-Unis en 2015. Plus de 50% de cette consommation a été utilisée pour la production de chaleur et de froid. Néanmoins cette consommation peut être réduite par l'amélioration la performance énergétique du bâtiment. La performance thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment joue un rôle primordial. Par conséquent, le diagnostic thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment est nécessaire pour, par exemple, la réception de nouvelles constructions, l'amélioration de la performance énergétique des anciens bâtiments, ainsi que la vente et la location des logements. Pourtant, il existe très peu de méthodes quantitatives pour la caractérisation des parois épaisses. L'objectif de cette étude est d'explorer des méthodes quantitatives innovantes de diagnostic thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment. Des mesures expérimentales ont été réalisées en laboratoire (à l’IFSTTAR à Nantes) et in situ (à l’IUT de Bordeaux). Différents capteurs et méthodes d'instrumentation ont été étudiés pour mesurer la densité de flux et la température de surfaces des parois, afin de procurer des recommandations pour le choix des capteurs ainsi que des protocoles de traitement de données. A partir des données mesurées (température et densité de flux des surfaces de l'enveloppe), trois approches numériques ont été proposées pour estimer des paramètres thermiques des parois multicouches épaisses : par méthode inverse, par réponse à un échelon et par réponse impulsionnelle. En outre, une méthode innovante non-destructive utilisant la rayonnement térahertz a été étudiée. Les mesures ont été effectuées au sein du laboratoire I2M. Cette méthode permet de caractériser le coefficient d'absorption des matériaux constructifs ordinaires comme isolation, plâtre, béton, bois… Elle pourrait postérieurement être combinée avec une méthode thermique pour apporter des informations complémentaires. / Buildings represent a large share in terms of energy consumption, such as 35% in the member countries of IEA (2010) and 39.8% in U.S. (2015). Climate controlling (space heating and space cooling) occupies more than half of the consumption. While this consumption can be reduced by improving the building energy efficiency, in which the thermal performance of building envelope plays a critical role. Therefore, the thermal diagnosis of building envelope is of great important, for example, in the case of new building accreditation, retrofitting energy efficiency of old building and the building resale and renting. However, very few diagnostic methods exist for the characterization of thick walls. The present measurement standards that based on steady state heat transfer regime need a long time (several days). The classical transient technologies, such as flash method, are difficult to implement on the walls because of the large thickness of walls and the complex conditions in situ. This thesis aims to explore innovative methodologies for thermal quantitative diagnosis of building envelope. Two experimental cases were carried out: one is in laboratory (IFSTTAR, Nantes) and the other is in situ (IUT, Bordeaux). Different sensors and instruments were studied to measure the wall heat flux and surface temperature, and provided some guidelines for the choice of sensors and data processing protocols as well. Using these measured data, three estimation approaches were proposed to estimate the thermal parameters of the multilayer thick wall: pulse response curve method, step response curve method and inverse method, which can be applied for different diagnostic situations. In addition, an innovative NDE (non-destructive evaluation) method using terahertz (THz) radiation was also investigated. Measurements were carried out in I2M laboratory to characterize the absorption coefficient of standard building materials (insulation, plaster, concrete, wood ...). This THz method can be combined with a previous thermal method to provide some complementary information.

The doctoral research revolves around a comparative study of timber modern methods of construction for low-rise, residential buildings in Scotland. The building techniques studied involve both timber-frame panel construction (open-panel and closed-panel systems and structural insulated panels) and massive-timber construction (cross-laminated and nail-laminated timber panels). A non-timber technique is also included in the study: more traditional, load-bearing masonry (blockwork). These different building techniques have been analysed from two complementary aspects: environmental impacts and thermal performance. The environmental study is based on the life-cycle assessment methodology and embraces various aspects: environmental impacts (e.g., climate change, acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, etc.), consumption of energy (renewable and non-renewable resources) and production of waste (from non-hazardous to radioactive). The assessment takes a cradle-to-gate approach and, in its structure and method, is informed by the current recommendations of the international standards in the field (i.e., ISO 14040 series). Various environmental trade-offs between construction methods have been identified. In terms of global-warming potential (excluding biogenic carbon sequestration), results suggest that timber-frame buildings show a better performance than masonry buildings; this is particularly true for the open-panel system, which emits about 10% less carbon than the masonry counterpart. Massive-timber buildings tend to cause more carbon emissions than masonry ones. In terms of consumption of non-renewable primary energy, timber buildings do not generally show significant advantages with respect to blockwork-based masonry. In particular, structural-insulated panel systems tend to show very high energy requirements. Timber-based buildings show a tendency to cause increased acidification, eutrophication and creation of low ozone than their masonry counterpart. The level of offsite fabrication that is employed for the erection of the buildings plays an important role in the magnitude of most environmental impacts, which show an average decrease between 5% and 10% when some of the operations are shifted from the construction site to the factory. v The thermal study investigates the performance of the building envelope, and, in particular, of external walls, by means of tests whereby the thermal behaviour of a sample of walls (of full-size section) has been observed and measured over time. On the outside, the walls were exposed to real, natural weather variations throughout the summer. The study especially focuses on the time-dependent response of three different walling systems (which results from their individual cross-sectional arrangements of building components and the associated combination of heat-storage capacity and thermal resistance): a timber-framed wall, a cross-laminated-timber wall and a masonry wall. Thus, the main goal of the study was to characterise the thermal-inertia parameters of these walls. This type of thermal behaviour is related to the repercussions of global climate change at UK level, especially in terms of increase in solar irradiance and temperature, which requires an adaptation of the building-envelope such that it can perform well both during wintertime and summertime, by providing maximum indoor comfort with minimum economic and environmental costs from the construction and operation of buildings. The timber-framed wall possesses the greatest capacity to slow down the propagation of temperature waves from the outer surface to the inner surface (time lag), whereas the masonry wall performs best with respect to reducing the amplitude of temperature oscillation on the inner surface (decrement factor). The cross-laminated-timber wall exhibits intermediate values of both time lag and decrement factor, relative to the other two walls. Both the thermal and life-cycle assessment of the construction alternatives aim at assisting the design and decision-making process in the residential field and at suggesting areas that need to be addressed and improved, towards a coherent evolution of the building techniques included in this study and a step forward in the realisation of sustainable, low-rise dwellings.

Purpose: The building sector accounts for 40 % of the total energy consumption in Sweden today, and the largest proportion is consumed during the operating phase. From the year 2020 and onwards, all new buildings should be erected as zero-emissionbuildings. The building’s design can reduce energy demands, but the current legal requirements do not favour energy-efficient designs. This study focuses on the design’s importance for the energy efficiency of buildings, i.e., energy-saving design. The impact of specific measures is difficult to calculate due to the complexity of reality. This study aims to highlight the measures that could reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. Method: In order to provide answers to the issues stated in the report and to achieve the objective of the study, case studies are being conducted investigating three commercial buildings where deliberate decisions were made to use energy-reducing measures. Results and conclusions are based on qualitative interviews and literature studies. Findings: The energy-reducing design measures found to be of most importance used in the studied buildings are the form factor, the window portion and the thermal storage capacity. Moreover, significant savings are possible by carefully consider how solar energy can be limited or used in the building. Generally, buildings tends to become more technical, therefore technical knowledge early in the process is important to reach a good result. Economic incentives and clear objectives with right focus are also important for optimizing a building’s energy performance. The wording and the requirement levels in the Swedish building regulations highly controls the construction of energy efficient buildings. Implications: This study shows how energy efficient design is made today and provides an indication of what can be done and what should be prioritized. By imposing requirements on consumed energy instead of bought, energy efficient design could be favoured. Furthermore, this study suggests that a balance between windows, façade and solar shading are important energy-reducing measures. Regardless of selected energyreducing measures, a good performance is essential. Finally, this study shows that a methodical use of existing knowledge and technology makes a difference. Limitations: A lifecycle approach provides an overall picture of a building’s energy consumption. However, this study is based on the energy consumption during the operating phase. The result of this study does not take economic or aesthetic factors into account. This study is a comparative case study and is based on few but carefully matched cases. The selected cases are commercial buildings where deliberate decisions were made to use energy-reducing measures.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur la modélisation et la caractérisation des transferts de chaleur et de masse dans les parois multicouches des bâtiments à ossature bois. Un code instationnaire permettant de simuler les transferts de chaleur et de masse dans une lame d'air en géométrie bidimensionnelle, qui est un élément de la paroi multicouches, a été développé et validé. Les validations numériques en régimes transitoire et stationnaire ont porté sur la totalité des modes de transfert (conduction, écoulement en convection naturelle et forcée, rayonnement entre surfaces, transfert massique et condensation surfacique). Ensuite, ce code intégrant la présence d'une lame d'air dans la paroi a été couplé au code Transpore développé au LERFOB. Ce dernier traite rigoureusement les transferts dans les matériaux solides hygroscopiques. Pour la validation expérimentale du code complet couplé, une cellule expérimentale a été construite et instrumentée pour étudier le comportement hygrothermique des parois étudiées. Cette cellule, régulée thermiquement et hygroscopiquement en température et en humidité relative, a été mise en place au CRITT BOIS d'Epinal. Des comparaisons entre les résultats expérimentaux et numériques sont également présentées et discutées. De nombreuses campagnes de caractérisation thermique sur divers matériaux (isolants à base de fibres de bois, bois massifs, ...) ont également été menées. L'influence de la température et de l'humidité sur la conductivité thermique et la chaleur spécifique a été largement analysée / This thesis focuses on modeling and characterization of heat and mass transfer in a wooden building envelope. A code which simulates unsteady heat and mass in an air layer in two-dimensional geometry, which is part of the multi-layer wall, was developed and validated. Numerical validations that include all transfer modes were achieved for unsteady and steady states regimes (conduction, convection, surface-to-surface radiation, mass transfer and surface condensation). Then, the code developed for the air layer at the LEMTA was coupled to the code Transpore used at the LERFOB. The latter one deals with the transfer in hygroscopic solid materials. For the experimental validation of the fully coupled code, an experimental cell was constructed and instrumented to study the hygrothermal behavior of the studied walls. This cell which is thermally and hygroscopicly controlled was set up at the CRITT BOIS. Comparisons between the experimental and numerical results are presented and discussed. Besides, several experiments of thermal characterization of various materials (insulators containing wood fibers, solid wood ...) were also conducted. The influence of temperature and moisture on thermal conductivity and specific heat was largely investigated