The Influence of Sunspaces on the Design of Thermal Envelopes in Energy Demand in Southern Chile

Abstract

This study evaluates the thermal influence of sunspaces from a representative case, The Historical and Anthropological Museum Maurice Van de Maele, Valdivia, Chile. For this case, different possible situations were analysed, including sunspaces, through energy simulations. The simulations were compared to the current state of the buildings, to perform an analysis of the possible energetic saving by incorporating sunspaces into construction. The specific climate of the area defined that during the majority of the year heating is needed, more than cooling, for the buildings. The results show that there are cases where, using sunspaces as an intermediary between interiors and exteriors, significant savings of over 60% in winter can be obtained.