Energy Analyses of Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Various Locations in Poland and Their Impact on the Number of Heating Degree Days

Abstract

Reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry is one of the daunting challenges to be addressed in the context of global warming. The purpose of these analyses was to examine how the energy class of a multi-family residential building regarding thermal insulation and type of ventilation affects the usable energy demand for heating and ventilation purposes, the length of the heating season, and the amount of demand for energy consumed by auxiliary devices. This article presents the energy analyses of multi-family residential buildings with identical technical parameters located in different locations in Poland. For research purposes, a total of 354 energy balances were compiled, covering 59 meteorological stations, 3 types of ventilation systems, and 2 building insulation standards. This article presents the ways in which the location and energy class of buildings affect the length of the heating season and the demand for energy required for heating and ventilation purposes. The results of the analyses carried out in this article show that the location and the energy class of the building have a significant impact on the demand for primary energy (EP). As a result, it was concluded that when designating a reference building for the energy rating system, its location should be taken into account and reference buildings should be designated considering climate zones.