Effects of climate change on variations in climatic zones and heating energy consumption of residential buildings in the southern Chile

Abstract

Global climate change is changing meteorological parameters and climate zones for building in different parts of the world, as well as changing energy consumption by dwellings. Therefore, in this study, changes in climatic zones for building in three regions in southern Chile have been analysed under the conditions of two future climatic scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). On average, the temperature will increase by +0.68°C and +1.51°C by 2050–2065 in the study region for scenarios RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, respectively. This will cause a decrease in the annual heating degree-days values. In 72% of cities (RCP2.6) and in 92% of cities (RCP8.5), climate zones for building will be replaced by warmer ones. Consequently, the possibility of applying the current building standard of the country in future climatic conditions has been questioned. Finally, it was found that the heating energy consumption of a single-family house will decrease by 13% and 27% on average for the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively.