Reducción de la Demanda Energética de un Edificio Comercial Mediante la Selección Óptima del Aislamiento Térmico

Abstract

The performance of the thermal envelope in buildings plays a crucial role in the energy consumption used for heating and cooling, in the well-being of occupants, as well as in the costs associated with its installation and maintenance, especially in regions with extreme climates. However, selecting the optimal thickness represents a challenge for designers since, in certain situations, as the thickness of the thermal insulation increases, the heating demand decreases while the cooling demand tends to increase. This study focused on determining the optimal insulation thicknesses in a hypothetical 1200 m² building located in Salamanca, Spain, using the EnergyPlus software to perform an annual simulation, where technical and economic aspects were considered. For the development of this work, two scenarios were established. In the first scenario, the thicknesses of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation in the floor, roof, and walls were independently varied, with values ranging between 0.01 m and 0.08 m. In the second scenario, the thicknesses were adjusted uniformly in these areas. The results showed that the second option was the most suitable, with a payback period of 7.9 years. These analyses considered specific climatic parameters, detailed indoor conditions, and corresponding thermal loads, offering results that enable informed decision-making regarding the design and financing of building thermal envelopes.