Impact on building energy performance by deployment of dynamic insulation in residential buildings in Canada

Abstract

This report summarizes the results of an analysis evaluating the energy performance of small residential buildings in Canada. Using the HOT2000, an energy simulation modelling program created and maintained by Natural Resources Canada, the goal of this work is to investigate dynamic insulations, run simulations, and assess the possible energy savings brought on by using dynamic insulation materials (DIMs) in exterior walls in place of conventional static insulation. DIMs can alter their thermal properties based on control procedures, unlike conventional static insulations, to accomplish desired goals. In this analysis, exterior walls with DIMs are controlled to minimize heating and cooling thermal loads in residential buildings, located in different climate zones in Canada. In particular, 2-step manual controls are used to switch the R-value of variable insulation between low and high levels based on the thermal interactions between the outside and inside a prototypical one-story home, thereby reducing heating and cooling requirements while maintaining thermal comfort. According to the analysis's findings, dynamic insulations can drastically lower the amount of energy needed to run heating and cooling systems. The use of 2-step control techniques operating DIMs, in particular, can lower yearly energy consumption by up to 44% for space cooling and by up to 33% for space heating, resulting in up to 36% annual energy savings.