Thermal Bridges Monitoring and Energy Optimization of Rural Residences in China’s Cold Regions

Mingqian Guo, Yue Wu () and Xinran Miao
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Mingqian Guo: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Yue Wu: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Xinran Miao: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-25

Abstract: With the worldwide dissemination of the “green development” concept and the advancement of China’s new rural construction, the sustainable development of rural residences has gained significant attention within the construction industry. This article focuses on large-scale prefabricated insulation block houses used in China’s cold regions, specifically examining the case of Defa Village in Nenjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. By utilizing thermal imaging cameras, the thermal bridge parts of these houses are detected, and a finite element model is established to optimize the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of these areas. This optimization is achieved by expanding the insulation layer and implementing low thermal bridge structures, ultimately enhancing the insulation and energy-saving efficiency of the houses. Simultaneously, an energy-saving analysis is conducted based on an optimized enclosure structure scheme, considering seven key design factors that influence building energy consumption: span, depth, clear height, and window-to-wall ratio in all four directions. Through a comprehensive experimental method, the building energy consumption is evaluated, and a scheme with optimal values is proposed. The results demonstrate that the insulation block walls and the main structures with expanded insulation layers and low thermal bridge structures are easier to construct. When compared to the original scheme, the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the walls is reduced by 54.82%, while that of the beams and columns is reduced by 97%. Implementing the optimal value scheme leads to a reduction of 66.83% in the building’s overall energy consumption. This research provides valuable guidance for the design and construction of large-scale insulated block rural residences, revealing the substantial potential of rural residences in terms of energy-saving and emission reduction.

Keywords: sustainable architecture; rural prefabricated housing; climate analysis; structural thermal bridges; energy optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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