Ground Thermal Inertia for Energy Efficient Building Design: A Case Study on Food Industry

Fernando R. Mazarrón, Jaime Cid-Falceto and Ignacio Cañas
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Fernando R. Mazarrón: Rural Engineering Department, E.T.S. Agronomics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jaime Cid-Falceto: Construction and Rural Roads Department, E.T.S. Agronomics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain
Ignacio Cañas: Construction and Rural Roads Department, E.T.S. Agronomics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: The search for energy efficient construction solutions is still pending in the agro-food industry, in which a large amount of energy is often consumed unnecessarily when storing products. The main objective of this research is to promote high energy efficiency built environments, which aim to reduce energy consumption in this sector. We analyze the suitability of using the thermal inertia of the ground to provide an adequate environment for the storage and conservation of agro-food products. This research compares different construction solutions based on the use of ground thermal properties, analyzing their effectiveness to decrease annual outdoor variations and provide adequate indoor conditions. The analysis undertaken is based on over five million pieces of data, obtained from an uninterrupted four year monitoring process of various constructions with different levels of thermal mass, ranging from high volume constructions to others lacking this resource. It has been proven that constructive solutions based on the use of ground thermal inertia are more effective than other solutions when reducing the effects of outdoor conditions, even when these have air conditioning systems. It is possible to reach optimal conditions to preserve agro-food products such as wine, with a good design and an adequate amount of terrain, without having to use air conditioning systems. The results of this investigation could be of great use to the agro-food industry, becoming a reference when it comes to the design of energy efficient constructions.

Keywords: efficient design; thermal inertia; agro-food construction; indoor conditions (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: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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