Energy performance of buildings : bridging the gap between research and practice

A method to bridge the gap between research and practice, as far as estimation of the
building envelope Heat Loss Coefficient is concerned, is to perform measurement of
indoor temperature profiles during unoccupied periods when the solar heat gains are
sufficient to reach significant indoor-outdoor temperature differences. An observation
of indoor temperature profiles was conducted during summer 2014 in a passive house
located in Belgium. The observation includes periods with and without occupancy.
Occupants were asked to describe their behavior regarding windows opening, closing
of external blinds, opening of internal doors. Electric devices were listed and the
electricity consumption profile was characterized during occupancy and no
occupancy. A calibration process is performed in order to reproduce the global heat
balance of the whole building and the zone by zone heat balance. The calibrated
model provides an estimation of the Building Heat Loss Coefficient. The influence of
the assumptions related to occupants’ behavior in summer is confirmed and
recommendations are made to better describe that behavior in terms of use of
mechanical ventilation, internal doors opening and use of external blinds.