Numerical simulation of energy consumption optimization in residential buildings in Belgrade

Abstract

This paper presents heat consumption optimization and possibility to increase energy efficiency of Belgrade residential buildings. Residential buildings were selected according to the year of construction and type of building (multi apartment buildings and single family houses). Numerical simulation was applied to investigate heat consumption of buildings' zero model which represents buildings' current state. Numerical simulations were performed for typical meteorological year conditions for Belgrade city area. In this calculation, building surroundings, outside heat transfer coefficient (which depends on local weather conditions) and inside heat transfer coefficient (according to the type of walls) were taken in account. The validation of zero model is based on measured and calculated inside air temperature in considered objects. The influence of improved building envelope on heat consumption, compared to building zero model, was investigated by adding insulation and/or by replacement existing windows with those with better thermal characteristics. The energy consumption was numerically simulated over whole heating season. The energy efficiency increase calculations showed possibility for saving heating energy from 10% to 80%. This conclusion was obtained by comparing four different scenarios of improved building envelope with basic zero model for four modeling objects (two multi apartment buildings and two single family houses). Results indicate that focus of energy savings should be on how to decrease energy consumption in households sector. Additionally, solar energy use for two different objects (PV cells were applied for multi apartment building and solar thermal collectors for single family house) was numerically simulated.