THE TRANSIENT HOUSE HEATING CONDITION – THE BUILDING ENEVELOPE RESPONSE FACTOR (BER)

Abstract

In this paper influence of house walls on heating energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort was investigated. The simulations were carried out using an extended dynamical model of building-software ZID under transient conditions, like the first heating day after a long non-heating period. Four simulation cases were considered: two-layered thermal-insulation concrete house walls were used, where the thermal insulation was inserted in the inner, outer or middle positions according to the inside of the house, and one-layered concrete house walls. The influence of the house walls on internal thermal comfort and heating process is presented by two introduced factors: thermal comfort degree-hour and building envelope response factor (BER factor). This new BER factor could be a significant variable in considering house walls as a passive heating energy source. The conclusion is that under certain conditions the BER factor is at a maximum, at which point the influence of house walls on inside thermal comfort and heating energy consumption is also at a maximum.