Calculation of the level of energy efficient heat protection

Introduction. The choice of the level of heat protection of buildings should be based on the economic performance of buildings, taking into account the cost of maintaining the pre-set thermal microclimate on the premises. Hence, it is necessary to initially determine the amount of energy consumed by the heating, atmospheric and mechanical cooling of buildings. Towards this end, buildings that are different in size and have different numbers of storeys are studied. These buildings are located in various Russian regions featuring different periods of heating and solar radiation intensity. They are Moscow (central Russia), Astrakhan (southern region) and Vorkuta (northern region). Materials and methods. The problem is solved computationally; the authors use buildings of different geometry that are located in Moscow, Astrakhan and Vorkuta. Various levels of heat protection of external walls and coatings, as well as different values of heat gain are considered. For all options, annual energy costs are calculated using primary fuel costs. Simulation and comparison were chosen as the main research methods. Results. The results are presented in the form of tables of annual primary energy consumption required to maintain the pre-set thermal parameters for various building options featuring different levels of heat protection and heat gain. Conclusions. According to the research findings, the highest level of heat protection is the best heat protection option from the standpoint of energy consumption in the cities under consideration (Moscow, Astrakhan and Vorkuta). Year-round heat gains reduce the load on the heating system during cold seasons; however, they have a negative impact du­ring warm seasons and transition periods due to the additional load on the air conditioning system. According to the calculation results, if the building heat density equals or exceeds 40 W/m2, some rooms may need cooling during cold seasons.