ArticlePDF Available

Abstract

During construction or renovation of the building there is a question of choice windows. The modern market offers several kinds of windows: wooden, plastic, aluminum, and combined models. The most common and constantly competing with each other are wooden and plastic windows. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of all types of windows and offers the advice on selecting the type of windows for energy efficiency in buildings.
Choosing the right type of windows to improve energy efficiency of
buildings
Nikolay Vatin1,a, Olga Gamayunova2,b
1,2St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, St.Petersburg, 195251, Russia
avatin@mail.ru, bgamayunova@inbox.ru
Keywords: windows, wooden windows, plastic windows, aluminum windows, energy efficiency,
energy saving, energy-saving plastic windows, i-glass, k-glass.
Abstract: During construction or renovation of the building there is a question of choice windows.
The modern market offers several kinds of windows: wooden, plastic, aluminum, and combined
models. The most common and constantly competing with each other are wooden and plastic
windows. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of all types of windows and offers
the advice on selecting the type of windows for energy efficiency in buildings.
Introduction
In recent years, Russia has become increasingly focused on energy saving and energy saving in
construction. In the program of energy saving the windows play an important role, since the current
level of their thermal protection is considerably inferior thermal protection of envelope structures of
buildings (up to 40% of all losses of the building).
According to the data of energy audits, one of the causes of energy losses is a windows in the old
wooden frames, installed in many buildings, which belong mainly to budgetary organizations, such as
kindergartens, schools, etc. [10, 12, 14-20].Obviously, such a windows should be replaced. The right
choice of the type of windows affects not only on energy efficiency, but also on economic efficiency.
Heat loss through the window occur through several channels: loss through window unit and
frames, losses due to heat conduction and convection air flows between the panes, as well as heat loss
through heat radiation.
Obviously, the amount of heat loss through the window unit is directly dependent on the window
construction, materials and manufacturing quality.
With the continuous increase of tariffs for electric and heat energy, improved thermal performance
of windows is one of the most effective ways to address energy efficiency in buildings.
Main types of windows
The main materials for the fabrication of windows in Russia now are wood, aluminum and plastic.
According to various estimates, the share of plastic windows is 60-80% of all windows.
Each of these windows has its advantages and disadvantages (refer with: Table 1), as well as their
own consumers [7]:
plastic windows is the most economical option glazing industrial, public and residential
buildings;
aluminum windows gradually starting to be used in residential buildings (such as the glazing
of balconies and loggias), but until recently, their main area of application were industrial and
public facilities;
modern wooden windows (“euro-windows) with glass unit belong to the elite segment of
translucent structures and installed mainly in luxury villas and apartments.
Further shall consider in more detail the main characteristics and properties of plastic and wooden
windows. Aluminum windows will not be considered as they are used mainly in industrial buildings
and non-residential premises (for example, for glazing of balconies and loggias)
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 633-634 (2014) pp 972-976 Submitted: 22.07.2014
© (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Accepted: 26.07.2014
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.633-634.972
All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP,
www.ttp.net. (ID: 79.175.1.139-13/09/14,00:22:04)
Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of wooden, plastic and aluminum windows
Type of
windows
Advantages
Disadvantages
Plastic
windows
Durability, resistance to all forms of
meteorological influences (especially
important in high humidity);
Sealed seams and joints;
Does not require additional finishing
(during the lifetime retain original color);
High levels of thermal and acoustic
insulation;
Don’t require special care.
The need for ventilation or use of
devices for ventilation;
Relatively high requirements to
qualification of installers of windows
and to the technology of manufacture.
Aluminum
windows
Almost unlimited durability;
High strength at low specific weight;
Resistance to corrosion, distortion and
other environmental hazards;
No need for special care;
The ability to produce very large
windows and windows of all forms;
Wide design possibilities.
Production of aluminum is a very
energy-intensive and expensive
process;
Ability of electrochemical reactions;
High thermal conductivity;
The need for ventilation or use of
devices for ventilation.
Wooden
windows
High durability of wood at a small
weight;
Low heat conductivity and sound
conductivity;
High frost;
Environmentally friendly;
Attractive appearance of natural
materials;
Maintainability.
The presence in the wood defects
(cracks etc.);
Can rot and attacked by
microorganisms;
Need the periodic care (coloring etc);
Costliness;
Relatively high requirements to
qualification of installers of windows
and to the technology of manufacture;
The need for ventilation or use of
devices for ventilation.
Plastic windows
Numerous advantages of plastic windows (ease of operation and maintenance, noise protection,
heat insulation) always attract potential buyers. However, you must know both the positive and
negative aspects that should be considered before deciding the question of replacing conventional
windows with plastic.
Plastic windows can reduce noise inside the rooms. It is very important if your home or office is
located near the roadway, bustling shopping centers, construction sites. Attractive opportunity is to
install a mosquito net for the summer period, which protect not only from insects, but also from dust
and dirt.
But the main advantage of plastic windows is that in that room where they are installed, it becomes
much warmer and the heat stored long time.
Plastic windows do not cause too much hassle to use, do not require sealing in winter, the annual
coloring and repair, unlike wooden, conveniently washed with any suitable for this purpose detergent.
Disadvantages of plastic windows are also evident. Sealed property of modern windows violate
ventilation inside of rooms, and as a consequence is increased relative humidity. In the cold season on
the surface of the glass appears condensate. On the window slopes and walls can be appears mold.
This not only spoils the look of the room, but also dangerous to health.
The main disadvantage of plastic windows is almost complete lack of fresh air into the apartment
(if they are closed).
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 633-634 973
Wooden windows
The Russian market of high-quality wooden windows began to emerge in the 1990s in parallel with
the market of plastic windows. Economic crisis in 1998 slowed it development, and due to the
increasing popularity of plastic windows in the 2002-2004 the market of wooden windows showed a
negative trend [7].
Active growth in demand for wood windows in Russia resumed in 2005. However, in 2008, under
the influence of the economic crisis, the positive dynamics again changed to negative: during two
years consumption of wooden windows decreased by 53.5% [7]. Nevertheless, now the market of
wood windows gradually increases and experts hope that in the coming years, this growth will be
more prominent.
The main consumers of the Russian market of wooden windows are apartments, townhouses and
cottages of business and premium class. The overwhelming volume of consumption (over 85%) are in
the individual low-rise buildings.
Advantages and disadvantages of wooden windows are presented above (refer with: Table 1).
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of wood used for the manufacture of
wooden windows (refer with: Table 2).
Table 2. Advantages and disadvantages of certain types of wood used for the manufacture of wooden
windows
Kind of
wood
Advantages
Disadvantages
Pine
Low heat conductivity;
Ease of processing and drying;
Optimal ratio “price - quality”.
Lower durability compared with larch;
Use of chemical compounds that prevent
rotting, which negatively affects the
environmental properties.
Larch
Resistance to any type of biological
impact;
Increased strength and fire resistance
compared with pine;
Lower cost compared with windows
made of oak.
Difficulty in processing;
Cracking due to rapid drying in direct
sunlight.
Oak
Resistance to any type of biological
impact;
High durability (2.5 times higher than
that of a pine).
Demand careful processing;
May crack during drying;
High cost (2 times higher than the
windows of pine).
Ash
Resistance to any type of biological
impact;
High hardness (more than oak);
Flexibility and elasticity.
May crack during drying;
High cost compared with windows made
of pine or larch.
Beech
High durability (beech is one of the
most durable type of wood);
Ease of sanding (because less dense
than oak);
Ease of drying, no cracks.
Chance of fungal infections of
constructions.
Energy-saving plastic windows
Energy-saving plastic windows - are windows that use energy-efficient k-glass (glass paved) or
i-glass (glass with a soft covering). According to its characteristics i-glass surpasses k-glass.
Differences between the i-glass and k-glass are in production technology and the value of the
coefficient of radiating capacity. Using of window units with I-glass allows not only to reduce energy
costs but also significantly improve indoor comfort.
974 Advanced Materials and Processes IV
During the heating season the energy saving effect of the window construction of medium size
with i-glass equivalent burning liquid fuel (fuel oil, diesel oil) with a total weight of up to 300 kg. The
disadvantage of i-glass compared with k-glass is its reduced abrasion resistance. It is the reason of
certain difficulties during transportation. However given the fact that the energy-saving coating of
i-glass is always inside a sealed, this deficiency does not affect the characteristics of i-glass.
Advantages of energy-saving glasses:
one-chamber glass with i-glass or k-glass has a larger effect of energy saving than
dual-chamber glass with ordinary glasses;
one-chamber glass with energy-saving glass lighter than dual-chamber on 10 kg/m2 (for glass
thickness 4 mm), which provides a longer service life casement and reduces the load on the
window fittings;
one-chamber glass with energy-saving glass has more light transmission than dual-chamber
glass with ordinary glasses;
at mass production the price of one-chamber glasses with energy-saving glass does not differ
from the price of the two-chamber glasses with ordinary glasses.
Resume
In order to improve energy efficiency in new construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance
of buildings, priority should be given to the newer types of energy-efficient windows. All of that
without warming of exterior walls should allow get lower power consumption (up to 30%) at a high
return on investment [23-25].
For many years in Russia are very popular plastic windows. However, wooden windows are
environmentally safe but less moisture resistant than the plastic window. But unlike plastic, wooden
windows breathe, or in another way through the wood occurs breathability. Therefore, even if the
windows are closed tightly air in rooms with wooden windows will be fresher than in rooms with
plastic windows.
Thus the correct choice of windows is one of the most effective ways to increase energy efficiency
in buildings.
References
[1] O.N. Beskorovainaia, D.S. Bychkov: The Quickly Erected Buildings In Modern Construction
(2014) Advanced Materials Research Vols. 941-944, pp. 868-872.
[2] N.S. Bolshakov, S.A. Krivoy, X.M. Rakova: The comfort in all respects principle
implementation by the example of an elementary school (2014) Advanced Materials Research
Vols. 941-944, pp. 895-900.
[3] A.S. Fidrikova, O.S. Grishina, A.P. Marichev, X.M. Rakova: Energy-efficient technologies in
the construction of school in hot climates (2014) Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols.
587-589, pp. 287-293.
[4] Z.A. Gaevskaya, S.D. Mityagin: Capital construction and noosphere genesis (2014) Applied
Mechanics and Materials. Т. 587-589. pp. 123-127.
[5] Z.A. Gaevskaya, X.M. Rakova: Modern building materials and the concept of “sustainability
project” (2014) Advanced Materials Research Vols. 941-944, pp. 825-830.
[6] A.S. Gorshkov, D.V. Nemova, N.I. Vatin: The energy saving formula (2013) Construction of
Unique Buildings and Structures, 7 (12), pp. 49-63. (rus)
[7] Information on http://www.techart.ru
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 633-634 975
[8] D.V. Nemova: Power effective technologies of external envelopes (2012) Construction of
Unique Buildings and Structures, 3. Pp. 78-82. (rus)
[9] D.V. Nemova: Ventilation systems in residential buildings as means of increase of power
efficiency (2012) Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures, 3. Pp. 83-86. (rus)
[10] D.V. Nemova, D.S. Tarasova, A.A. Staritsyna, A.V. Nefedova: Results of educational building’s
inspection (2013) Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures, 8 (13). Pp. 1-11. (rus)
[11] M.R. Petrichenko, D.V. Nemova, D.S. Tarasova, A.A. Staritcyna: The double-layer non
stationary heat conduction. Measures to prevent the formation ice-damson the roof (2014)
Applied Mechanics and Materials. Т.580-583. pp. 2308-2315.
[12] D.V. Petrosova, D.V. Petrosov: The energy efficiency of residential buildings with light walling
(2014) Advanced Materials Research Vols. 941-944, pp. 814-820.
[13] E.V. Seko: Optimization and the dimensional analysis in structural engineering problems (2014)
Advanced Materials Research. Volume 945-949, pp. 1236-1241
[14] Zh.S. Teplova, K.I. Solovyeva, D.V. Nemova, D.A. Trubina, D.V. Petrosova: Thermo technical
calculation of enclosure structure of comprehensive school (2014) Construction of Unique
Buildings and Structures, 4 (19). Pp. 96-108. (rus)
[15] N.I. Vatin, A.S. Gorshkov, D.V. Nemova: Energy efficiency of envelopes at major repairs.
(2013) Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures, 3 (8). Pp. 1-11. (rus)
[16] N.I. Vatin, A.S. Gorshkov, D.V. Nemova, A.A. Staritcyna, D.S. Tarasova: The energy-efficient
heat insulation thickness for systems of hinged ventilated facades (2014) Advanced Materials
Research. T. 941-944. pp. 905-920.
[17] N.I. Vatin, D.V. Nemova: Increase of power efficiency of buildings of kindergartens (2012)
Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures, 3, pp. 52-76. (rus)
[18] N.I. Vatin, D.V. Nemova, V. Murgul, V. Pukhkal, A. Golik, E. Chizhov: Reconstruction of
administrative buildings of the 70's: The possibility of energy modernization (2014) Journal of
Applied Engineering Science/Istrazivanja i Projektovanja za Privredu. 1. pp. 37-44.
[19] N.I. Vatin, D.V. Nemova, D.S. Tarasova, A.A. Staritcyna: Increase of energy efficiency for
educational institution building(2014) Advanced Materials Research. Т.953-954. pp. 854-870.
[20] N.I. Vatin, D.V. Nemova, A.S. Kazimirova, K.N. Gureev: Increase of energy efficiency of the
building of kindergarten (2014) Advanced Materials Research. Т. 953-954. pp. 1537-1544.
[21] E.V. Vostrikova, Z.A. Gayevskaya: Modernization of residental buildings of the 1960s (2014)
Advanced Materials Research. T. 941-944. pp. 858-863.
[22] A.V. Ulybin, A.V. Puzanov: About test methods of corrosion state of reinforced concrete
structures (2014) Applied Mechanics and Materials. Т. 578-579. pp. 981-986.
[23] V.M Yakubson: Energy audit of buildings and industrial plants (2011) Magazine of Civil
Engineering. 5. pp. 2. (rus)
[24] V.M Yakubson: Energy efficiency of buildings and structures: practical steps (2013) Magazine of
Civil Engineering, 6 (41). pp. 5-6. (rus)
[25] V.Yakubson: Politics of St. Petersburg in energy saving and energy efficiency (2010) Magazine
of Civil Engineering, 1, pp. 5-6. (rus)
[26] T.O. Zadvinskaya, A.S. Gorshkov: Comprehensive method of energy efficiency of residential
house (2014) Advanced Materials Research. Т. 953-954, pp. 1570-1577.
976 Advanced Materials and Processes IV
... It is known that energy saving in buildings in solving practical problems of reducing the total consumption of non-renewable energy resources is carried out by using effective thermal insulation materials, energy-efficient designs of exterior walls, etc. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] with the use of modern structural solutions [14][15][16][17][18][19]. In this case, the main ways of heat loss in heated buildings are windows [20,21]. To increase the heat protection of windows, designs with increasing glazing layers, with double-glazed windows and heat-reflecting or heat-absorbing glass in different bindings are used [22]. ...
Article
Full-text available
This article presents the results of thermophysical studies conducted in the cold period by non-destructive testing of translucent exterior building envelopes for heat protection and illumination of the room with natural light. As an object of study was chosen 3-room apartment on the fifth floor of the 17-storey residential complex “Sport Towers”, located in Astana, where the survey was conducted in the daytime. The window openings of the respective rooms were selected as translucent exterior envelope. As a result of the survey it was found that the internal temperature of the living rooms has a deviation of 3.5% from the optimal norm on the parameters of microclimate of the premises, which leads to a violation of the norm and overconsumption of heat energy for heating due to inadequate thermal protection of translucent exterior envelopes. At humidity 48.1% and internal temperature of the room 19.3 °C that the dew point was 8.1 °C. The value of the surface temperature including in the zone of adjoining to opaque elements of the considered structures showed deviation from -16.3°C to 8.0°C, which exceeds the dew point temperature in some cases in 3 times. The total area that does not meet the norm of the examined fragments of translucent exterior envelopes was from 5.9% to 100%. It is noted that the above deviations in heat protection of buildings can lead to the appearance of mold on the inner surface of the envelopes. The qualitative and quantitative indicators obtained as a result of thermophysical studies are the basis for the design of translucent parts of the exterior envelope when they work together with the blind wall part of the façade systems and in the future will be taken into account by designers in the development of new energy-saving exterior envelope structures, which are planned to be implemented throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking into account climatic features.
... In building envelopes, windows are one of the main ways of heat loss in heated buildings [30][31][32]. To increase the thermal protection of windows, designs with increasing glazing layers, with double-glazed windows and heat-reflecting or heat-absorbing glass in different bindings are used [33]. Increasing the heat transfer resistance of windows is also achieved by improving its individual structural elements, such as geometric, thermophysical properties of walls, windows, lintels and joints [34]. ...
Article
Full-text available
In the study a full-scale thermovisional survey was carried out in the cold period of time of a multi-apartment residential building located in the Northern part of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The result of the survey showed the presence of significant problems on heat protection, where according to the analysis of thermograms of external wall envelopes it was revealed that almost all living rooms have envelopes with a negative value of heat protection, which does not meet existing standards. The analysis of thermograms of all rooms showed the existing problems on thermal stability of external wall envelopes, as the temperature difference between the inner surface of the external envelope and the internal air temperature ranged from 5.5 °C to 19.7 °C, where the difference reached 49 times in some places, depending on the living room. Analysis of thermograms of window openings also showed a lot of deviations. Thus, thermograms of window apertures showed deviations from sanitary-hygienic norms on dew point value from 12°C to 26.2°C depending on the living room. The revealed deviations on thermal protection of external envelopes are the main sources of heat energy loss and indicate the presence of problems on thermal stability of external envelopes in the cold period, which require special attention. In this regard, the obtained results of this study will be further taken into account in the development of new and optimization of existing wall envelope structures, taking into account the climatic features of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
... It could be argued that inappropriate window types in residential houses, such as sliding windows and projected windows in the tropics, could result in more energy use for adequate ventilation as these would limit the extent of the openings required for a more significant percentage of airflow needed for natural ventilation. Although [75] argued that up to 25% of a home's total heat loss through windows can come from window units and frames, losses from heat conduction and convection airflows between the panes, and heat loss from heat radiation. In contrast to this argument, this view only applies to buildings in temperate regions or climates where residential buildings need window types to limit the rate of heat loss. ...
Article
Full-text available
Energy utilisation has recently become a highly sought-after commodity on a global scale. This situation is not limited to Nigeria, where the national grid’s supply of electricity has been severely inadequate. This has hampered the country’s ability to meet the mounting needs of its large population and expanding economy. Aside from the global challenges of rising energy costs and environmental disasters, a number of factors such as a lack of interest in indigenous building technologies and materials have contributed to the Nigerian construction industry’s slow pace of meeting energy demand and achieving energy efficiency. This study investigates the possibility of achieving energy conservation through innovative materials, methods, and technology to increase energy efficiency and minimise energy demand in Nigeria’s residential housing. The objective is to determine the variables that influence energy usage in residential house design, select methods and technologies to reduce energy demand, and assess the best materials and processes. A quantitative approach to data collection was used by distributing questionnaires to respondents in the Minna metropolis. A hundred and forty (140) question- naires were distributed, and 117 of them were returned. Secondary data were obtained from literature reviews, journal articles, and conference papers. According to the findings, the most energy efficient residential buildings would result from the appropriate use of innovative ma- terials, methods, and technology to reduce the energy demand of the building. In order to decrease energy demand, the study suggests that built environment professionals should focus largely on changing energy-consuming devices and their end uses for energy efficiency. It concluded that, in order to reduce overlap between the applications of these elements and bet- ter meet the needs of building occupants in terms of energy usage in Nigeria, energy demand should be considered from the design stage.
... Windows are one of the main contributors to heat losses in a building, which are usually generated by air infiltrations through the window pane and the frames, through conduction and convection of air between the panes of glass and/or due to thermal radiation [53]. Therefore, windows are also subject to renovation when it comes to reducing heat transfer. ...
Article
Full-text available
Building renovation was declared a key point for sustainable development, however, the renovation rate of residential buildings in the European Union is insufficient to meet the climate and energy targets set. This paper analyses the main circular economy models used in the construction sector, as well as the situation of the building renovation market, to set a framework for circular economy models in building renovation. Of all the existing strategies in this sector, design, material recovery, building renovation and end-of-life actions would be the best, respectively. It also includes a market analysis consisting of a literature review covering PEST perspectives (political, economic, social and technical) and a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), concluding with a market gap analysis. The results of these analyses allow the development of a series of suggestions and strategies to be followed in order to solve the main barriers that hinder the implementation of the circular economy in the building´s renovation sector.
... Объект исследования -ограждающие конструкции, изготовленные из различных материалов, а также их теплотехнические свойства. Изучение накопления (отдачи) тепла ограждающими конструкциями представляет научный и практический интерес [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Одна из главных проблем в строительстве -это экономия на строительных материалах и неправильное проектирование ограждающих конструкций. ...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction. The articlecompares the heat engineering properties of construction materials: high-strength concrete, ordinary concrete, and two concrete samples containing a vegetable additive, dried stem fragments of hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi). The first sample contains the additive in the crushed form, while the second contains the additive in the form of tubes. The research to estimate heat conduction in the four samples under unsteady conditions. Materials and methods. The thermal diffusivity of two samples with plant additive is determined using a comparative physical experiment. When determining the thermal properties, the accumulating component of the enclosure is taken into account what leads to a long delay in the temperature variation over time. DS18B20 digital temperature sensors connected to an Arduino Uno board were used to measure the temperature. The experiment was carried out in the Challenge 250 chamber at an initial temperature of 20 ºС. Then the chamber temperature was lowered to 0 ºС within 30 minutes. In the next period, the temperature dropped from 0 ºС to –10 ºС. The data obtained are of interest for improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Results. The experiments showed that the tubular-hogweed sample is close to high-strength concrete by its heat engineering properties. The material thermal diffusivity affects the amplitude of temperature fluctuations and the accumulating capacity of the wall. Conclusions. It is established experimentally that at lower thermal diffusivity of a hogweed-containing sample, the amplitude of temperature fluctuations increases. This indicates a greater time lag, just as in the case of a high-strength concrete sample. When using the hogweed as an additive, we obtain a heat-resistant minimum-cost material for enclosures. Considering an issue of the energy efficiency in construction and existing additives to concrete, the researchers have reached the conclusion that it is efficient to use the dried hogweed as the plant additive.
... However, wooden window frames are more prone to defects (e.g. rot and attack of microorganisms), thus requiring regular and adequate maintenance [52]. The selection of the type of wood to be applied can be a challenging task, due to the vulnerability of wood to the aggressive agents, and in specific cases, wooden frames can be an expensive solution [42,17]. ...
Article
Window frames present an important role in the energy efficiency of the buildings. The deterioration of window frames strongly influences their water and air tightness, thus comprising the buildings performance. In this sense, the service life of window frames should be carefully analysed, identifying the factors that influence the deterioration of these components, to improve their durability over the buildings’ life cycle. In this study, the service life of window frames is estimated through the application of the factor method. For this purpose, a sample of 173 aluminium and 41 wooden window frames are analysed, collected through a visual inspection campaign, in order to characterise these elements and their state of degradation. In this study, three scenarios are proposed for the quantification of the durability factors, intending to obtain an optimised model for the service life prediction of window frames. Using the optimised scenario, an estimated service life ranging between 37 and 41 years was obtained for aluminium frames, while an estimated service life around 28 years was obtained for wooden frames. The results obtained are consistent with similar studies and the empirical knowledge related with the durability and service life of window frames.
Article
A theoretical study of the effect of porosity and internal structure of the exterior envelope in the ANSYS and BLENDER software systems has been carried out in the paper. As an example of exterior enclosure structure, an arbolite block with porosity up to 20% and fiber structure in the direction along and across the heat flux, as well as randomly and at an angle of 45° was studied. As a result of the study, it was found that the significant effect of the heat flux dependence on the porosity of the material is the porosity of the block over 10%, which reached up to 5.92%, and with porosity up to 5% showed a difference of 1.3%. At the same time, the fiber structure also showed a significant difference from 8.16% to 15.33% depending on the fiber direction. At the same time, the analysis of the effect of porosity on the thermal conductive value also showed a difference of up to 15.33% for the same value of heat flux. At the same time, the influence of fiber structure shows an additional difference of up to 5.9%. The results of the study showed that the most thermally conductive arbolite blocks are, those in which the direction of fibers are located along (along the X axis) and at 45 ° relative to the structure of fibers across (along the Y axis) and random, the difference of which was up to 1.6%. The obtained results of this study, further excluding the costly experiments to determine the coefficient of thermal conductivity can be used to accurately estimate the coefficient of thermal conductivity of external envelopes made of arbolite blocks, considering porosity and fiber structure in the design of residential buildings.
Conference Paper
The world is currently facing a severe shortage of energy due to the widespread use of non-renewable energy sources in every factory production, which also contributes to the alarming concern of greenhouse effect. According to a report by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) in 2019, the residential and commercial sectors accounted for 12.3% and 13% of the country's total electricity consumption, respectively. To address the need for transitioning to renewable energy sources, it is important to focus on reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings, where heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are major consumers. Manual operation of HVAC systems is a cause for significant energy wastage, and automated control systems can be implemented to reduce this wastage, particularly in commercial buildings. Again, we will use smart glass technology in building façade which will enhance the energy efficiency of buildings by regulating the amount of light inside the building based on natural light intensity outside. This paper recommends that policymakers, building proprietors, and architects give due consideration to the integration of smart glass technology into building design to reduce energy consumption, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, enhance indoor comfort, and diminish energy wastage by implementing automated HVAC control systems.
Article
Full-text available
This work presents a complex of technological solutions aimed at possible improvement of performance efficiency of oil refinery plants. These technological solutions are based on the control mechanisms of consumer material-heat balance for obtaining an optimum balance between fractionating accuracy of the obtained distillates, process energy characteristics and increase of the thermal energy integration at the plant. At this the proposed solutions do not provide the changes of the basic plant equipment, and no significant capital investments should be made for its implementation.
Article
Full-text available
Nowadays in Russia we see rapid modernization of power engineering and transport systems. Under these conditions the issue concerning improvement of regional heat supply system energy-efficiency has gained a new importance. The aim of this study is to find new development directions of the public-private partnership (PPP), specifically from the perspective of its energy efficiency. Amid the financial crisis and economic sanctions the formation of public-private partnership allows increasing of energy efficiency of regional fuel and energy complex by means of regional energy service company creation. This paper will be useful both for central and local government and for private business.
Article
Full-text available
On November, 20–20th, the Saint-Petersburg session of V International Congress “Energy efficiency. XXI century. Engineering methods for reducing energy consumption in buildings” took place. According to A.M. Grimitlin, senior secretary of the congress and president of “AVOK Severo-Zapad”, the main role of this event is educational. Nowadays everybody supports state initiatives in energy saving, but few of them know the ways of its realization. It concerns the participants of construction process also: designers, developers, operating organizations.
Article
Full-text available
The question of energy efficiency and energy saving has high degree of relevance. It was revealed that in the view of considerable heat consumption the administrative buildings that had been constructed in Russia before 1996 require modernization. Built at their time and based on the actual at that moment standards of the thermal protection, nowadays these buildings became automatically unsatisfactory from this viewpoint. At the same time their operating period is not finished, which means that those buildings do not need a major overhaul. The paper presents an algorithm for upgrade of the thermo-technical parameters of the framing as well as the parameters of overall energy consumption to the modern requirements without complex reconstruction of the building or ceasing their normal functioning. The building selected for examination is the "Uchebny corpus" of St-Petersburg Polytechnic University. This administrative building is typical from both: construction and exploitation. That is why the conclusions made in this research can be applicable to most of framed administrative buildings of the above period.
Article
Full-text available
Calculation of payback periods of the energy saving actions directed on increase of level of thermal protection of external enclosure structures of buildings is given. Economic efficiency of investments in energy saving actions is analyzed and the model allowing to carry out the specified analysis is offered. Recommendations about reduction of payback periods are provided.Article also is devoted definition of optimum, economically well-founded thickness of a insulant in systems of rear ventilated facades. Are resulted thermotechnical and economic calculations. The optimum thickness of the insulant in the given systems is offered.A number of the energy saving actions is necessary for economy of thermal energy, allowing to eliminate defects of protecting designs or to reduce their influence on building heatconsumption. Construction of hinged ventilated facades at simultaneous introduction of automated individual thermal points with automatic equipment dependent on weather [1] can become an example of the engineering decision on increase of heat-shielding properties of protecting walls.
Article
Full-text available
In article the structural analysis of power consumption of the building of kindergarten is carried out, on the basis of the analysis of actual data of heatconsumption and the carried-out tool energy audit the data, allowing to estimate a condition of systems of heating, power supply, water supply are obtained. Actions for energy efficiency increase are offered. It is shown need and economic feasibility of performance of the organizational and technical actions offered to realization on economy of thermal and electric energy.
Article
The following article deals with the problem of icicles formation on the roofs and the elimination methods. The attic roofs with pitched roofing are highly susceptible to this negative phenomenon. In work warming of garret overlappings as a method of prevention of formation ice-dams on roofs of buildings in the operation, being characterized is in detail considered by the lowest temperatures of external air.
Article
this paper considers the possibility of applying the ideas of dimensional analysis in optimization problems of building structures. The mathematical formalism for this opportunity are encouraged to use the method of geometric programming. Demonstration considered optimization problem reinforced concrete slab, which is solved with the help of the program developed by the author. The possibility of obtaining as a result of optimization of analytical expressions for the economic criteria of similarity best options. Also shows the possibility of obtaining optimal solutions in analytical form for those variables in the original problem are not uniquely defined. The very ambiguity of the definition of the variables of the original problem may not be obvious, and it appears in the process of optimizing, which is one of its results.
Article
The article describes the traditional methods used in Russia for testing of reinforcement corrosion conditions including peculiarities and weak sides of it. The new methods of non-destructive testing, which are used mainly in foreign countries, are overviewed there. The physical basics and the advantages of the testing method of half-cell potential are also characterized. A relatively new method of non-destructive testing of reinforcement corrosion condition is the method of measuring the concrete resistivity. The article describes the principal of its application and the factors influencing the measuring result. There are also the data of this method application for covering inspection of the Kurskiy station in Moscow.
Article
The modern materials and technologies have an ability to provide a solution of the main goal of modern construction − maximum comfort. This article shows the implementation of comfortable building in a project of primary school. All the components of comfort have been taken under consideration: a rational space-planning, energy efficiency, acoustic isolation, air-tightness, daylight, fire safety, visual aesthetics. Special attention has been given to energy-efficiency: heat transfer coefficients have been calculated, optimal constructions have been selected, involving alternative methods of producing energy. The class of the building’s energy has also been determined. Economic benefits have also been described due to using renewable energy, area economy and so on. As a result, the concept of "comfort in all respects" have been revealed, recommendations on its implementation and further research in this area have been given.
Article
Research is presented in article directed on the analysis of constructive and technical features of quickly erected buildings of the panel type developed in the 70th years. Shortcomings of considered designs were revealed. The solution of elimination of shortcomings of existing designs quickly erected buildings due to change of the design and application of a new material is proposed. Application of a new material allows decrease in a body weight of bearing designs, change of a form of section of a design and elimination of "the cold bridge".