The thermal and energy performance comparison of extruded polystyrene foam insulation for an apartment building in different climate zones,Egypt

Authors

Seham Ali Elmozy, YOUSSEF ELKHAYAT, Engi Eldarwish

Abstract

The energy sector continually grapples with formidable challenges, particularly in nations characterized by burgeoning populations, where the construction industry faces mounting pressure to curtail energy consumption. Among the influential factors impacting a building's energy usage and environmental building performance, thermal insulation materials stand out prominently. Consequently, this research selected a residential building, situated in diverse climatic conditions, to assess the implications of applying thermal insulation materials to the building's envelope on indoor thermal comfort and energy consumption, both in the current period and in the context of climate changes. Utilizing Design Builder software, an apartment was simulated for three major climate zones: semi-arid, Mediterranean, and arid regions. This assessment encompassed an evaluation of indoor thermal comfort and energy consumption, considering the existing conditions as the base case, and contrasting them with alternative scenarios. The principal findings derived from this study affirmed that the optimal solutions across all climatic zones effectively balanced the twin objectives of energy reduction and improved thermal comfort. The results underscored the significance of a complete wall construction composed of red brick with an additional layer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) thermal insulation as a pivotal strategy for diminishing heat gains and extending thermal comfort in all three climatic conditions. In the optimal scenario, the thermal comfort period increased by 34.9%, 21.9%, and 33.2% in Cairo, Alexandria, and Aswan, respectively. Furthermore, this approach achieved a noteworthy energy savings of 21.7% in Aswan, representing the highest energy conservation ratio when compared to Cairo (13.8%) and Alexandria (19.9%).

Recommended Citation

Ali Elmozy, YOUSSEF ELKHAYAT, Engi Eldarwish, Seham (2023) "The thermal and energy performance comparison of extruded polystyrene foam insulation for an apartment building in different climate zones,Egypt," Journal of Engineering Research: Vol. 7: Iss. 3, Article 55.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/erjeng/vol7/iss3/55