Winter Thermal Environment and Thermal Performance of Rural Elderly Housing in Severe Cold Regions of China

Huibo Zhang, Ya Chen, Hiroshi Yoshino, Jingchao Xie, Zhendong Mao, Jingwen Rui and Jinfeng Zhang
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Huibo Zhang: Department of Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Ya Chen: China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Hiroshi Yoshino: Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
Jingchao Xie: College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100000, China
Zhendong Mao: China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Jingwen Rui: China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Jinfeng Zhang: Longjiang Jing Xi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Qigihar 161100, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Understanding the thermal performance of the residential envelope is important for optimizing the indoor thermal environment. In this study, the indoor thermal environment and thermal performance of rural residences housing the elderly was determined through field measurements in Qiqihar in 2017 and 2019. The results revealed that the living room temperatures in more than 50% of homes were below the thermal neutral temperature for the elderly (17.32 °C). Moreover, the indoor thermal environment changed significantly during the day, with the predicted mean vote during the day fluctuating from 2 to 4 units. The air change rate of living rooms in 2017 and 2019 was 0.20–2.20 h −1 and 0.15–1.74 h −1 , respectively. Residential ventilation times detected by an air-tightness detector ranged from 0.40–1.49 h −1 . Furthermore, infrared thermography (IRT) detected air leakage in the windows of the all houses in this study, as well as thermal bridges and condensation on the exterior walls of several houses. The heat transfer coefficient of the exterior walls of all houses detected by IRT was 0.25–0.74 W/(m 2 ·K), and a significant positive correlation was observed between the heat transfer coefficient of the south wall and the window-to-wall ratio. Finally, the heat transfer coefficient of the external walls exhibited a negative but not significant correlation with indoor temperature. This study provides detailed data and guidance for improving the indoor environment of rural houses in severe cold regions.

Keywords: severe cold region; rural elderly housing; thermal environment; airtightness; thermal performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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