Reducing the energy consumption of existing residential buildings, for climate change and scarce resource scenarios in 2050

Abstract

A pilot study of energy efficiency measures, or retrofit actions, was carried out for a single-storey detached (single-family) house. It used climate downscaling to project the climatic conditions of a region, and building simulation techniques with two thermal comfort approaches for scenarios of "Climate Change" and "Scarce Resources" in the year 2050. This study was the first stage of a research programme to find cost-effective retrofit actions to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for existing Australian houses in a temperate climate. The pilot study ranked retrofit actions that were cost-effective in reducing the heating and cooling energy usage of a house. These actions included removing carpet from a concrete floor for added thermal mass, and adding external shading with deciduous trees to lower summer radiation from the northern windows (in the southern hemisphere). Also, the alternative thermal comfort approach showed that occupants had more control to lower their energy usage than the standard Australian approach