JAUE2024-024: Low-carbon Retrofit of the External Envelope Based on Thermal Comfort Improvements

Abstract

Existing buildings in Northeast China face serious issues in indoor physical environment, such as poor ventilation and inadequate thermal performance, leading to significantly increased energy consumption and inability to meet residents' comfort needs. These problems primarily stem from limitations in architectural design and construction technology, which fail to fully consider local climatic conditions and residents' actual requirements. Therefore, improving the indoor environmental quality of these existing buildings, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing residential comfort have become urgent issues to address. This paper selects typical residential buildings in Dalian City and proposes enhancement strategies for the building envelope. Using EnergyPlus software, the thermal comfort improvement effects of different retrofit strategies are simulated and analyzed concerning exterior walls, windows, and roofs. The results aim to provide insights and references for creating healthier indoor thermal environments and improving livability in cold regions.