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Procedia Engineering 00 (2017) 000–000

ScienceDirect www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

Procedia Engineering 205 (2017) 686–693

10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, ISHVAC2017, 19-
22 October 2017, Jinan, China

Research on Energy Efficiency Design Key Parameters of Envelope

for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Cold Area
Guohui Fenga,* ，Baoyue Doua，Xiaolong Xua，Dandan Chia，Yixin Suna and Peiyu
Houa
aa
School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, 9 Hunnan Road, Shenyang 110168, China

Abstract

The insulation thickness of envelope, heat transfer coefficient of window and ratio window to wall are the main factors that affect
the building energy consumption in cold area. The demonstration building model is established through DEST energy
consumption simulation software. Multiple factors with single variable method is used to study the performance parameters of
building envelope and establish the energy efficiency design key parameters of nearly zero energy buildings. According to the
calculating result, the value of heat transfer coefficient for exterior wall is 0.096 W / (m2 • K). The value of heat transfer
coefficient for outer window is 0.780 W / (m2 • K). The value of solar heat gain coefficient SHGC value is not less than 0.474.
Based on these selections above envelops, the ratio window to wall is 0.15-0.25 in south facades. The energy consumption is
increased linearly with the rise of ratio window to wall in other facades.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and
Conditioning.
Air Conditioning.
Keywords: Cold area; Nearly zero energy buildings; Energy efficiency design; Performance parameters; DEST

1. Introduction

According to the statistics of the BP World Energy Statistical Yearbook, China is the world's second largest
economy at a cost of 23% of the world's primary energy, making it the world's largest energy consumer. Building
energy consumption accounts for about 30% of total social energy consumption. According to the experience of
developed countries, this proportion will gradually increase to about 40% [1]. Therefore, we must attach great
importance to building energy consumption. European countries began to focus on building consumption since

*
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: 24690716; fax: 24690716.
E-mail address: fengguohui888@163.com

1877-7058 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

1877-7058 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioning.
10.1016/j.proeng.2017.09.885
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1980s. After decades of development, gradually formed their own energy-saving building development concept. In
recent years, nearly zero energy buildings in our country is gradually increased. With China's building energy
efficiency technology gradually developed, China has also carried out research of nearly zero buildings and
demonstration construction practice [2]. But the research of nearly zero building is still in its infancy, and the current
reference design standards and practical projects are rarely. Therefore, this paper from the perspective of building
energy consumption factors, through the computer simulation technology to calculate the main factors. According to
the calculation, the energy efficiency design key parameters of nearly zero energy buildings are established. The
result is meaningful. It provides quantitative data support for the development of nearly zero building, at the same
time, it is of great practical value to guide the design of energy efficiency design in the cold area.

2. Methods

The main method is the computer simulation technology. DEST is the building energy analysis software
developed by Tsinghua University [3]. First, the demonstration building model is established with DEST software.
Then multiple factors with single variable method is used to study the performance parameters of building envelope
which influence the building energy consumption greatly. Finally, establish the energy efficiency design key
parameters of nearly zero energy buildings.

2.1. Building overview

The nearly zero demonstration building is in Shenyang Jianzhu University (see Figure 1). The demonstration
building has two layers, the first layer is 3.3 meters high, and the second layers is 3.6 meters high, with a total
construction area of 334.8m2. The first floor is a typical residential building, including a demonstration room,
kitchen, bathroom, reception room, exhibition hall, control room and equipment room. The second floor includes
open office area, conference room and bathroom. Make full use of solar energy, geothermal energy and phase
change energy storage technology, greatly reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. The building uses a better
external insulation structure of technical measures, heat transfer coefficient is 1.0 W / (m2 • K), the use of advanced
doors and windows closed technology, airtight 8. The building body size is 0.47. The west ratio window to wall is
0.09, the south and north ratio window to wall is 0.12, the east ratio window to wall is 0.05.

Figure. 1. Building exterior

To simulate and study the energy consumption of the model building, we should first establish a physical model
of building (see Figure 2), which can reflect the size, layout and structure of the building.
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Engineering 205 (2017)
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Figure. 2. Building energy consumption calculation model

Table 1. Basic parameters of room thermal disturbance of equipment and the environment
Upper Lower Upper Lower
Light Equip
temperature temperature humidity humidity Start-stop
Room Person/m2 disturbance disturbance
limit limit limit limit time
W/ m2 W/ m2
℃ ℃ % %
Lounge 0.1 3 2 25 20 60 50 7:00-21:00
Reception 0.1 3 2 25 20 60 50 7:00-21:00
Toilet 0.1 3 0 28 18 60 30 7:00-21:00
Kitchen 2 3 2 28 18 60 30 7:00-21:00
Equip 0 3 2 28 17 60 30 －
Hall 0.2 3 2 27 18 60 50 7:00-21:00
Control 0 3 2 28 17 60 30 7:00-2100
Office 0.1 3 2 25 20 60 50 7:00-21:00

2.2. Set the calculation parameters

The meteorological parameters are used in this simulation, based on the Chinese meteorological parameters of
the Shenyang area weather data. Different rooms have different functions, and the staff density and lifestyle have a
certain difference. Basic parameters of the thermal disturbance of room equipment and the environment are made
(see Table 1). Take several rooms as an example, the room personnel schedules are as shown in Figure 3. The
ventilation times are 0.5 times per hour. The light interference is 3W/m2, other heat interference take 2W/ m2. The
temperature should maintain at 20-25℃ when people often stay in the place. The temperature can maintain the duty
cycle at 15-28 ℃ for less or no people to stay [4]. Energy efficiency ratio of building refrigeration is 2.3, and the
heating energy efficiency ratio is 1.9. The heating period is from November 15th to the next year in March 15th, and
the air conditioning period is from June 1th to August 30th. To obtain the thermal parameters of the envelope
structure with the initial model, the envelope structure is built through the standard building materials provided in
the software. The enclosure structure parameters such as exterior wall, exterior window, roof and floor are set up.
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Figure. 3. Room personnel schedules

3. Results

3.1. Analysis on the insulation thickness of wall

According to relevant statistical data, the heat caused by building envelope heat loss ratio is as follows: the heat
loss of the wall is about 60%-70%; the heat loss of the doors and windows is about 20%-30%; the heat loss of the
roof is about 10% [5].

Figure. 4. Sketch of heat loss of building envelope

From Figure 4, we can see that the heat loss through the wall is dominant, followed by doors and windows.
Strengthening the insulation of the wall structure is an important measure of building energy efficiency.
There are several methods to improve the thermal performance of the wall, external insulation, internal insulation
and self insulation. From the aspects of energy saving, economy and comfort, the external insulation system has a
great advantage. The commonly used external insulation materials with polystyrene foam (EPS), extruded
polystyrene foam (XPS), polyurethane foam and mineral wool etc. At present, the EPS insulation materials is the
most mature technology and is widely used [6]. The EPS board and external insulation are used in the demonstration
building. Concrete construction method: Table 2.
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Table 2. Structure and heat transfer coefficient

Thermal conductivity Insulation thickness heat transfer coefficient
Number Construction method
W/（m • K）
2
（mm） W/（m2 • K）
Polymer mortar 0.93 5 －
1 Graphite EPS board 0.033 100 0.228
2 125 0.194
3 150 0.169
4 175 0.15
5 200 0.135
6 225 0.122
7 250 0.112
8 275 0.103
9 300 0.096
10 325 0.089
11 350 0.084
Self - insulation wall 0.1 120 －
Silicon calcium board 0.24 10 －

Figure. 5. The relationship between building energy consumption and insulation thickness

From Figure 5, we can see that with the increase of the in the insulation thickness, the building heating energy
consumption is gradually declined and the building cooling energy consumption is almost unchanged. It indicates
that the insulation thickness has little effect on building cooling energy consumption. From the trend of building
total energy consumption, the total energy consumption reduced significantly when the insulation thickness is from
100mm to 300mm. Further increase the thickness of the insulation layer, the total energy consumption is basically
unchanged. So 300mm is the best insulation thickness, and the corresponding heat transfer coefficient is 0.096W /
(m2 • K).
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3.2. Influence of window performance parameters on Building Energy Consumption

The energy consumption through the doors and exterior windows is very high, especially the exterior windows of
buildings. The heat transfer coefficient of the external window is many times that of the outer wall heat transfer
coefficient, and the heat dissipation through the external window is also very high[7].

Table 3. Window construction form and corresponding thermal performance parameters

Frame Heat transfer coefficient

Number Window type Air layer mm Gas SHGC
material W / (m2 • K)

1 6/13 Air 1.368 0.575

2 Three-layer 3mm Low-E 13/13 Air 1.256 0.579

UPVC
3 single-coated glass 6/13 Argon 1.135 0.575
K=3.476W/
4 13/13 Argon 1.058 0.579
（m2•K）
5 13/13 Air 0.982 0.474
~double coated glass
6 13/13 Argon 0.780 0.474

The outer window is the weak link of the thermal insulation of the envelope. In recent years, the domestic
research show that the heat transfer loss caused by the hot and cold load accounted for about 1/3 of the total load [8].
So one of the key technologies to achieve building energy efficiency is improving the overall performance of the
outer window. Hollow Low-E glass technology is outstanding and widely used nowadays because its glass heat
transfer performance and radiation performance greatly improve the indoor light and heat environment, and greatly
reduced the building energy consumption. In this paper, six typical energy-saving windows are selected. The main
performance parameters are shown in Table 3. The relationship between the ratio window to wall and the building
energy consumption of six typical energy-saving windows is simulated.

Figure. 6. The relationship between energy consumption and ratio window to wall in the south

Figure 6 reflects the relationship between energy consumption and ratio window to wall with different window
types in the south. From the left figure, we can see that No.1-4 window, the building energy consumption is declined
when the ratio window to wall in the south range from 0.05 to 0.15. Then with the rise of the ratio window to wall,
the building energy consumption is increased. No. 5, 6 window, building energy consumption is declined when the
ratio window to wall range from 0.05 to 0.20. Then with the rise of the ratio window to wall, the building energy
692 Guohui Feng et al. / Procedia Engineering 205 (2017) 686–693
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consumption is increased. Compared with No.1-5 window, the energy consumption of No.6 (K=0.780 W/ (m2 • K),
SHGC=0.474) is low. The building energy consumption is the lowest when ratio window to wall range from 0.15 to
0.25. The right figure reflects that the relationship between building heating consumption, cooling consumption,
total consumption and the No.6 window south ratio window to wall. With the rise of ratio window to wall, the
heating consumption is gradually declined, the cooling consumption is gradually increased, and the total
consumption first reduced, then increased.

Figure. 7. The relationship between energy consumption and ratio window to wall

As is shown in Figure 7, the total energy consumption is a linear increase with the rise of ratio window to wall in
the north, and 6 types window have the same trend. No.6 window has the lowest total energy consumption. With the
rise in the east and west ratio window to wall, the building energy consumption is obviously increased, basically the
linear law. So it is necessary to control the ratio window to wall in the east and west. In the case of different window
and ratio window to wall, the building energy consumption of No.6 window is the lowest.

4. Discussion

In this paper, a model of in cold area is established through the DEST energy simulation software, and the
important parameters which affect the building energy consumption are simulated. According to the simulation, the
heat transfer coefficient of the wall and the thermal performance parameters of the window are established. This
research has a great value. It can provide quantitative data support for the development of nearly zero building
design in the cold area. According to the simulation results, the building has the lowest heating and cooling energy
when the insulation thickness of outer wall is 300mm, and the corresponding heat transfer coefficient is 0.096W /
(m2 • K). For the outer window, because of its heat loss and solar radiation heat double attribute, so heat transfer
coefficient and the different orientation ratio window to wall was simulated and analyzed. The energy consumption
of the building is the lowest when the heat transfer coefficient of the outer window is 0.780 W / (m2 • K), and the
solar heat coefficient is 0.474. Building energy consumption achieve the lowest value when the south ratio window
to wall is from 0.05 to 0.15. Building energy consumption increases with the rise of ratio window to wall. It is
necessary to reduce the ratio window to wall to meet the premise of lighting in the east, west, and north.
Based on the above analysis results, the final calculation results of the key design parameters about the wall
thermal performance, outer window thermal performance and ratio window to wall are summarized. The key
parameters index of building envelope energy - saving design are shown in Table 4.
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Table 4. Key parameter values of nearly zero building envelope energy-saving design in severe cold area

Key factor Design

Wall K=0.096 W/（m2 • K）

Outer window K=0.780 W/（m2 • K） SHGC=0.474

South: 0.05-0.15
Ratio window to wall
East, west, north: meet the lighting requirements to take the minimum

5. Conclusions

In this paper, the key factors of nearly zero building envelope energy-saving design are simulated and quantified.
The results as follows.
• The main energy efficiency design parameters of the nearly zero building in the cold area, the heat transfer
coefficient of the wall is 0.096W/ (m2 • K).
• The heat transfer coefficient of the outer window is 0.780W/ (m2 • K), and the solar thermal coefficient is not
less than 0.474.
• The parameters of ratio window to wall is from 0.15 to 0.25 in the south. In other directions, with the rise of
ratio window to wall the building energy consumption is almost linear growth. Take the lowest value of east,
west, and north ratio window to wall to meet the requirements of building lighting.

Acknowledgements

This paper is supported by “12th Five Year” national science and technology support program (2014BAJ01B04-2).

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