How can you avoid overheating a building?
You can imagine. A new construction or major renovation often means thorough insulation of the envelope, large windows that let in lots of light, etc... All important things but have you also thought about limiting overheating of your building?
Good insulation is obviously the basis for limiting energy loss. However, this limitation of energy loss also has some consequences in summer: after the building has been warmed up through a combination of the sun and large windows, it is difficult for the heat to leave the building again. With this reason, it is extremely important to protect your building (new construction or renovation) from overheating.
Preventing overheating
To prevent overheating of your building, Ingenium will mainly work to avoid active cooling. These passive alternatives are preferred since they are a lot more energy-friendly and sustainable than active cooling.
Despite the need for summer comfort simulation, there are already some assumptions that are best considered at the design stage. These principles are based on the principle of Quadras Energetica and are as follows:
- First, the demand for cooling must be reduced as much as possible.
- Fill the remaining cooling demand in a sustainable way. Make use of passive cooling.
- When simultaneous cooling and heat demand is present, enable energy exchange.
- Is active cooling unavoidable? Then deploy it as efficiently as possible!
Application of passive measures to prevent overheating
The risk of overheating can be reduced by applying some passive measures. By applying these measures, you can already keep the final cooling demand low:
- Glass provided with low solar factor
- Install exterior blinds on the east, south and west sides of the building. Sun shading on the inside has little to no effect. Ideally, you should use mobile outdoor solar shading that is controlled according to solar radiation. Another option are fixed solar shading elements, with precise placement based on simulations.
Sustainably filling the remaining cooling demand
Provide a ventilation strategy that uses colder outside air at night to cool the building mass. This can be done through grilles or automatically opening windows, or through a ventilation system already in place. Release as much of the building mass as possible by avoiding raised floors and suspended ceilings where possible.
Is there simultaneous cooling and heating demand?
If this case occurs, make sure that an energy exchange between the two is possible. For example, the heat extracted from the south side of the building can be raised to a higher temperature via a heat pump and used, for example, to produce domestic hot water.
Supplement active cooling in a sustainable way
Als actieve koeling (en verwarming) onvermijdbaar is, zet ze dan efficiënt in. Dit kan op een duurzame manier door bijvoorbeeld gebruik te maken van een BEO-veld of Koude Warmte Opslag.
The necessary comfort and daylight simulations can help you balance these measures. Want to know how you too can keep your cool this summer? Then contact our expert Raf De Herdt at raf.deherdt@ingenium.be or call 050 40 45 30.
