A quantitative method for assessing home envelope's energy performance using measured data

摘要

This research develops a unique inverse method for assessing a residential home envelope's energy performance based on measured data. The method is built on the balancing principle that the heat that is generated by the heating equipment equals the heat that is lost to the outdoor environment through the building's envelope. This heat generation loss balancing process continues over time, being characterized by the heating equipment's operating cycles. An actual home in the cold climate zone is used as a case study with outdoor temperature varying between 12.9 and 57.6°F. The obtained results show that the given home's heat loss is linearly correlated to the indoor-outdoor temperature difference. They also indicate that measured data can provide reliable information for assessing and benchmarking a building envelope's energy performance. In comparison to a forward building energy modelling and simulation method, the proposed inverse method can provide accurate results, with much less effort needed for an existing building.