Influence of the external envelope u-value decrease on thermal and energy performace of buildings in Brazil

• Grant number: 09/17477-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Karin Maria Soares Chvatal
• Grantee: Karin Maria Soares Chvatal
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is widespread amongst professionals and researchers that buildings with higher external envelope thermal resistance are more comfortable and consume less energy. In a previous research, for Portugal and Southern European countries, it was verified that a highly insulated envelope can cause overheating in summer. The aim of this work is to do a similar study applied to Brazilian buildings and climates. The methodology consists in parametric studies obtained through computational simulations. It is intended to consider a considerable range of climates, buildings geometries, patterns of use, etc, in order to identify behavior patterns and tendencies regarding the decrease of the external building envelope U-value. As a final result, it is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the subject through providing indicators that can help to predict when there is overheating as a consequence of an external envelope U-vale decrease. (AU)