Analysis of thermal envelopes in the south of chile and their influence on energy demand and co2 emissions

Abstract

Like most countries, Chile has experienced a continuous growth in demand for energy, and national policies related to energy saving in the residential sector have been encouraged. One solution for improving the energy efficiency of buildings is to reduce energy loss through the envelope. In Chile, construction standards are regulated by the General Urban Planning and Construction Ordinance. The objective of this research is to analyse the ways in which different traditional solutions for the construction of the thermal envelope influence energy demand and CO2 emissions in the south of Chile, using the regional capitals of the southernmost regions as case studies. The analytical part of this research considered a house and nine types of traditional thermal envelope (constructed between 1960 and the present day). Models were simulated in five thermal zones, giving 45 case studies. A comfortable temperature for the houses was between 20°C and 24°C. The results show that there is a linear correlation between energy demand and CO2 emissions. It is concluded that energy demand can be reduced by 293% in the warmest area and 248% in the coldest area by using a thermal solution for building that meets the requirements of the regulations.