Solutions for retrofitting existing, wooden houses in cold climates

Abstract

Upgrading existing one-family houses to higher energy standards can be a challenge for owners, among others, due to the unclear status of technical regulations in the case of retrofitting at the national level. Retrofitting projects face technical obstacles that can be difficult to exclude with sensible measures. As a result, retrofitting projects are more difficult to complete. How can we effectively increase the rate of retrofitting projects for private owned residential buildings? Challenges associated with a complete renovation were listed, analysed and illustrated based on one of the smallest Norwegian typical wooden houses from the 1960s. Optimal packages of solutions for the retrofitting, based on energy simulation models, were proposed. The analysis showed that existing buildings are vulnerable meeting today’s, much stronger, energy requirements equal for all buildings. More attention should be given to the development of separate regulations at the national level as well as to the development of retrofitting solutions, if the goal of increasing the number of renovations is to be achieved. The efficient use of solar energy becomes an important measure, especially in the context of expected climate change, and a key to achieve sustainable energy management and a better indoor climate. To avoid unnecessary cooling loads and ensure optimal thermal comfort for residents, overheating criteria should be included in energy requirements even in cold climates in the near future.

Overheating risk of a typical Norwegian residential building retrofitted to higher energy standards under future climate conditions

“…The cooling demand seems not to be a crucial problem in the Norwegian context, in the near future. However, building envelopes with window-to-wall ratio (WWR) above a level of 0.4 should be avoid already now [17]. Better insulation means less heat losses in the winter seasons.…”