Analysis and optimization on energy performance of a rural house in northern China using passive retrofitting

摘要

A simulation study to improve energy and indoor environmental performance of a rural house by retrofitting in Beijing of China is presented in this paper. This dwelling was retrofitted using passive energy saving methods and it aims to reduce the annual energy consumption, especially the energy used for household heating demands and to improve the indoor air temperature during the winter. Two main retrofitting methods were used for this case study: insulation was added to the envelope of the house, and the single glazing windows had been replaced by double glazing. The model of this rural house simulated by DesignBuilder software is validated by the actual energy consumption. The validated model is then used to evaluate and predict the future performance of this house. The findings of this study indicate the advantages of retrofitting a rural house by using passive methods: annual energy saving for heating is about 60% and the indoor temperature of the house can be improved dramatically compared to its original status. Moreover, the environmental impacts cause by the heating fuel source has been mitigated. The results showed the potential for rural house retrofitting using passive energy saving methods in northern China.