Energy efficiency and thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction: A review

N. Soares, P. Santos, H. Gervásio, J.J. Costa and L. Simões da Silva

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, vol. 78, issue C, 194-209

Abstract: The improvement of the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar thermal energy, and the reduction of energy demand during the several stages of buildings' life cycle is crucial towards a more sustainable built environment. This paper presents an overview of the main features of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction with cold-formed elements from the point of view of life cycle energy consumption. The main LSF systems are described and some strategies for reducing thermal bridges and for improving the thermal resistance of LSF envelope elements are presented. Several passive strategies for increasing the thermal storage capacity of LSF solutions are discussed and particular attention is devoted to the incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs). These materials can be used to improve indoor thermal comfort, to reduce the energy demand for air-conditioning and to take advantage of solar thermal energy. The importance of reliable dynamic and holistic simulation methodologies to assess the energy demand for heating and cooling during the operational phase of LSF buildings is also discussed. Finally, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the environmental performance of LSF construction are reviewed to discuss the main contribution of this kind of construction towards more sustainable buildings.

Keywords: Buildings; Lightweight steel-framed (LSF); Energy performance; Thermal energy storage; Phase change materials (PCM); Life cycle assessment (LCA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117305762
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:78:y:2017:i:c:p:194-209

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.066

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().