Domestic energy savings: Investigation of optimum insulation thicknesses for the external wall of rural houses in Turkey

BOLUKBASI A., Comakli K., ŞAHİN S.

ENERGY EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PART A-ENERGY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH, cilt.24, sa.1, ss.25-37, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2009
  • Dergi Adı: ENERGY EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PART A-ENERGY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.25-37
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Insulation thickness, Energy savings, Rural house, BUILDING WALLS, PROSPECTS
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In Turkey, heat loss from houses in rural settlements is rather high since insulation isn't used in existing houses. Thermal insulation is one of the most effective energy - conservation measures in houses. Most of energy is consumed for space heating in rural houses. By enveloping house with proper insulation thickness, heat loss can be decreased and considerable energy savings can be obtained in rural houses. Therefore, the optimum insulation thicknesses for energy savings were investigated for different wall structures used in rural houses. The optimization is based on the life cycle cost analysis. In order to select the optimum insulation thicknesses, generalized charts are prepared. The results show that optimum insulation thicknesses vary between 0.02 and 0.104 m, energy savings vary between 20% and 82%, and payback periods vary between 0.67 and 4.6 years depending on the degree-days and the thermal resistance of wall material.