an energy efficient building for the arctic climate is a ... · an energy efficient building for...

An energy efficient building for the Arctic climate

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An energy efficient building for the Arctic climateIs a passive house sensible solution for Greenland?

Petra VladykováPh.D. Defense3rd of June 2011

Supervisors: Carsten Rode Toke Rammer NielsenSøren Pedersen


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► Background, research questions and objective

► The European Passive house and the Arctic

► Methods for optimization

► Analyses and results

► Conclusion and further work

Content

Background Passive house and Arctic Methods for optimisation Analyses and results Conclusion and further work


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Summary of thesisConference and ISI papers with several co-authors► Passive houses for the Arctic climates► The potential and need for energy savings in standard family

detached and semi-detached wooden houses in arctic Greenland► The Low-energy house in the Arctic climate – 5 years of experiences► Passive houses in the Arctic. Measures and alternative► The energy potential from the building design´s differences between

Europe and Arctic► What is an appropriate and reasonable building solution for the

Arctic climates based on a passive house idea?

Thesis



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► Energy use worldwide

► High energy consumption in buildings in the Arctic

► Buildings in the Arctic dependent on non-renewable natural resources

► Insufficient indoor air quality, high indoor temperatures, poor thermal comfort, lack of air tightness

Background



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1. Can the European definition of a passive house make use and be applied in the Arctic countries?

2. How will a European passive house perform in Greenland (Arctic)?

3. Could a passive house from the Arctic stimulate the development of low-energy building technology in other climates?

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4. What would be an energy efficient building for Arctic climates?

Research questions



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► Passive house and the potential usability in the Arctic

► Different and difficult environmental conditions► Building technologies and techniques► Lifestyle (expectation, moisture and indoor temperature)

► Potential of solar, passive and internal gains► Full utilization of renewable resources

► Focus on U-values, energy, not economy► Cost versus environmental impact versus energy savings► Energy efficient buildings in the Arctic

Objectives



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The passive house

Passive house principles

“Passive” without a hydronic

Definition and requirements

Principle► Super-insulated and airtight

building envelope► Heat recovery system providing

fresh air and heating► Energy efficient building

equipments► Renewable energy and

systems

Other rules



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The European passive house

Passive house qualities – definition and requirements for European conditions

Characteristics

Supplementary heat generation► Biomass combustion unit,

compact burner

Implementation► Central Europe 40-60º latitude► Nordic regions > 60º lat.► Mediterranean < 40º lat.



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The Arctic

Discontinuous permafrost, Arctic Circle, 10ºC July isotherm, tree line

Definition► Geographical, climatological

and climate

Population► 60-66º (15,000,000), 66-70º

(3,600,000), above 70º(400,000),

Climate► Long, cold winters and short,

cool summers, strong winds and storms

► Solar distribution and low sun elevation (Polar days and nights)



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Residential buildings in the Arctic

Example of double stud walls

Building structures► Lightweight► Medium weight

Heating degree day method

Space heating demand Domestic hot water consumptionElectricity consumption



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Energy systems and challenges in the Arctic

Low-energy house in Sisimiut, Built in 2004

Systems in buildings► Boiler with a hydronic heating

system covering heating and hot water consumption

Challenges► Hybrid (combined) system► System control► Maintenance and reliability► Transport► Renewable sources and

technology



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Methods for optimisation

Optimisation problem as a function

Optimization method

General optimization methods► ”a single objective” method► A ” multi-criteria” method► A ”qualitative” method



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Objectives ► Measurable and qualitative

Constraints ► Limitations

Decision variables► Performance decisive-parameters

Boundary conditions► Input and constant values

Optimisation methods for a passive house for the Arctic climate



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Models► Kranichstein, Typehouse 18D, Apisseq and Low-energy house► Focus on residential houses► PHPP and BSim

Uncertainties

Conclusion of methods► Analyses focused on energy performance and heat load of a

passive house► Focus on combination of measurable and qualitative parameters► Finding optimal solution in reasonable and practical way► Target is a passive house, means are the advanced building

materials characteristics► Energy efficient solution within the constraints in the Arctic regions

Optimisation methods for a passive house for the Arctic climate



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Energy balance of a passive house in Darmstadt, Germany

Example of energy balance of a passive house from PHPP

► Latitude 50º► Average annual temperature

7-9ºC► Passive house Kranichstein► Solar radiation distributed over

the year► Solar radiation available on the

design days

► Internal gains 2.1 W/m2

► Heat recovery η = 80%► Utilisation of the gains of 90-95%



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Coastal and inland cities with main characteristics for space heating calculation

c



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Relocated passive house – heating demand

Space heating

► Coastal and inland location► Greater temperature

difference = higher transmission heat losses

► Smaller amount of potential solar gains through windows

► Different solar pattern► Utilisation of the solar gains up

to 100%► Low angle sun and

overheating in summer► Potential in internal gains



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Coastal and inland cities with main characteristics for heating load calculation



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Relocated passive house – heating load

Heating load

► Two designs´ days► Poor availability of reliable

weather data► No solar gains on the design

days► Design heating load influenced

by the transmission, ventilation and infiltration heat losses and internal gains are subtracted (internal gains 1.6 W/m2 by PHI)



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Passive house in the Arctic using fundamental values



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Fundamental and national values

Example of internal heat gain for Germany and Greenland including the effect of people, cooking, lighting and household appliances

► Internal gains: 2.0 – 8.0 W/m2, for Greenland 5 W/m2

► Ventilation air change rate 0.3 – 0.5 h-1

► Building design: window/floor area <22%, lightweight timber structure with insulation and elevated foundation



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Passive house in the Arctic usingGreenlandic values



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Passive house in the Arctic using Greenlandic values in other latitudes


Lat. 66.6º Lat. 71.2º Lat. 74.4º


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Insulation in the building Equivalent effect

Equivalent effect of insulation value for locations in Darmstadt and Sisimiut

Equivalent effect for improvements to a passive house and energy improvements from current state to passive house standards



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Window in passive house in Sisimiut Kranichstein model:► Uglazing 0.3 W/(m2·K)► Uwindow 0.5 W/(m2·K)► g-value 0.6► 20% of window/floor area

Window´s properties



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Windows´ areaGlazed area facing south in the temperate climate

Glazed area facing south in the cold climate



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Infiltration heat loss► up to 20-40 kWh/(m2·a) for old and not airtight building in Germany► passive house: 1.3 kWh/(m2·a) in a temperate climate

2.3 kWh/(m2·a) in Sisimiut (66.6º)3.2 kWh/(m2·a) in Barrow (71.2º)3.7 kWh/(m2·a) in Resolute (74.4º)

Problems► Blower-door test and conversion methods to neutral pressure► Translation needs to take into account the effects of various climate-

dependent factors (wind, high temperature difference, stack effect) and the quality of building construction

Major attention should be put to the airtight layer in houses in the Arctic

Air tightness



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Heating load and heat exchanger efficiency

Heat exchanger efficiency and space heating in different climates

► Heating load of 10 W/m2 in a cold climate

► Ventilation heat loss is important

► Need for after heating if the efficiency is below average

► Basic rules

► Prime criteria



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Even interior temperature around 20ºC► In the Arctic, 24-26ºC with additional energy 10-30 kWh/(m2·a)► From 20ºC to 23ºC with additional energy 5 kWh/(m2·a)

Thermal comfort► No draft, no vertical air temperature differences, thermally good

insulated building envelope areas

Thermal comfort and interior temperature



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► Payback time for an upgrade passive house in a temperate climate5-10 years

► In the cold climate: transport, monopoly, non skilled labour, high prices for new technologies, low prices for non-renewable energies

► Sustainable value as the impact of materials expressed in savings in heating consumption and materials to built the house (insulation and transport)

► 40-45 years of payback for insulation

Sustainable value



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► Passive survivability► Passive house stability► Temperature drop in a normal house in the Arctic ► Temperature drop in a passive house of lightweight structure

Temperature stability and temperature drop



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Socio-economic conditions and culture gap► Cultural differences, dependency on the knowledge, different

lifestyles based on survival, food consumption based on availability, use of non-renewable sources

► Living preferences: open floor plans without corridors and integrated kitchen, one-storey building connected to the ground, large enclosed porches for storage, a cold entrance

Energy supply► Remote, small and isolated dependent on supplies► Need to prevail in extreme periods, back-up system and heat

storage► Passive house in the Arctic needs to be independent on the

resources

Socio-economic conditions, culture gap and energy supply



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► Based on performed analysis considering technical performance ofbuilding elements, weather characterisations, resources availability and other special conditions in the Arctic

► Recommendations based on a study of relevant literature, own investigations and implementation of thoughts about a passive house in the Arctic

► Argumentation based on a subjective argument

► What a passive house can offer?

Adaptation and optimisation of a passive house in the Arctic



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Optimisation► 5 W/m2, 0.5 h-1, η = 85%, ninfiltration 0.020 h-1

Reasonable values► Uwalls 0.055 W/(m2·K), Ufloor,ceiling 0.050 W/(m2·K), Uglazing 0.7 W/(m2·K),

g-value 0.6, window/floor area < 22%► 15 kWh/(m2·a), heating load 13.1 W/m2 and source 3-5 kW

Optimal energy efficient house based on a passive house idea in Sisimiut (66º lat)



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► Concept for locations above 66º latitude

► Other locations too demanding, need to alter more

► Or use energy from 120 kWh/(m2·a)

Optimal energy efficient house based on a passive house idea in other latitudes



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Design► Minimize heat loss and maximize exposure to sun with shading► Exterior wind barrier and interior airtight vapour barrier► Mainly south orientated windows for net energy gain, east and west

could be zero energy gain

System► Average η = 85-95%, large amount of condensation, defrosting and

after heating► Based on combination of renewable and non-renewable energies► Effective storage of excess energy

Building commissioning and energy monitoring

Recommendations for energy efficient buildings in the Arctic



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► Simple adaptation of a passive house is too demanding and unrealistic and 10 W/m2 can be achieved only with over-dimensioning

► Practical and reasonable solution► Interaction between energy demand, indoor climate, building

technologies and impact on the environment► Minimize the heat loss, maximize solar exposure, simple shape,

limitation on windows► “Twice as cold”: Uenvelope < 0.05 W/(m2·K), Uwindow < 0.5-0.7 W/(m2·K),

g-value > 0.6, ηavg > 80-90%► Heating system is necessity in winter periods coupled with renewable

resources or else heating storage

Conclusion



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► Acceptance and marketing of a passive house in the Arctic► Economical issues and pay back time ► Existing and advanced technologies► Adaptation of lifestyle and adapting technology► Technically skilled labour, architects and engineers► Implementation and distribution of renewable resources

Further work



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