Effect of Using Moisture-Buffering Finishing Materials and DCV Systems on Environmental Comfort and Energy Consumption in Buildings

Dobrosława Kaczorek () and Małgorzata Basińska
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Dobrosława Kaczorek: Thermal Physics, Acoustics and Environment Department, Building Research Institute (ITB), Filtrowa 1 Str., 00-611 Warsaw, Poland
Małgorzata Basińska: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4 Str., 61-131 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: One of the technical solutions to improve indoor thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption in buildings is the use of demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems. The choice of the control method becomes more important when the walls in the room are finished with moisture-buffering materials. This study explores the impact of four DCV system control scenarios (control of temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration for two different supply airflows to the room) combined with various indoor moisture-buffering materials (gypsum board and cement–lime plaster) on the variability of indoor air quality parameters, thermal comfort, and energy. The analysis was performed by computer simulation using WUFI Plus v.3.1.0.3 software for whole-building hydrothermal analysis. Control-based systems that maintain appropriate relative humidity levels were found to be the most favourable for localised comfort and were more effective in terms of energy consumption for heating and cooling without humidification and dehumidification. This research also revealed that the moisture-buffering effect of finishing materials can passively contribute to enhancing indoor air quality, regardless of the room’s purpose. However, higher energy consumption for heating was observed for better moisture-buffering materials.

Keywords: thermal comfort; DCV systems; moisture-buffering materials; IEQ; energy; WUFI Plus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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