Thermal, Economic and Environmental Analysis of a Low-Cost House in Alice, South Africa

Overen Ochuko Kelvin, Meyer Leroy Edson and Makaka Golden
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Overen Ochuko Kelvin: Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
Meyer Leroy Edson: Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
Makaka Golden: Physics Department, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Indoor and outdoor temperature variation results in heat transfer between the inner and outer space of a house, subsequently drifting the indoor temperature out of the thermal comfort zone. This leads to occupants spending a significant amount of their income on space heating and cooling to achieve thermal comfort. The aim of this study is to analyze the thermal, economic and environmental impact of a low-cost house. A low-cost house located in Golf Course, Alice was used as a case study. The outdoor and indoor weather conditions of the house were monitored for periods covering summer and winter seasons. To maintain indoor thermal comfort, 3412.57 kWh of heating and 3214.75 kWh cooling energy were required in winter and summer seasons, respectively. At a rate of 1 ZAR equal to 13.34 USD and 29.39 c/kWh, the energy consumption results in $1003.02 worth of heating energy in winter and $944.88 of cooling energy in summer. In both seasons, to supply the equivalent amount of thermal energy used in the house from a coal-fired power plant, 9.65 ton of CO2, 81.71 kg of SO2 and 39.50 kg of NO2 gases will be emitted into the atmosphere. Promoting and enforcing energy efficient design in low-cost housing will not only bring about energy savings, but will also provide a year-round indoor thermal comfort.

Keywords: low-cost housing; thermal envelope; social welfare; energy consumption; green gas emission; retrofitting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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