Energy-efficient building

Abstract

 The invention presented relates to an energy-efficient building and the objective of the invention is reduction of heat losses in buildings. For the achievement of this purpose, building structures are surrounded with continuous heat insulation and the wall structure consists of two separated structures: inner wall structure and outer wall structure with heat insulation in-between, the inner wall structure and outer wall structure being load-bearing structures, and the building is provided with forced ventilation. Introduction of the invention may limit the need for heating energy of an energy-efficient building to 15-40 kWh/m².

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of construction technology - more specifically, the invention relates to an energy-efficient building characterised by low heat loss.

Prior art

[0002] Solutions for reduction of building heat losses are known in the prior art. Known is the solution "Building" (EE00849U1, Alain Kang, published on 15 July 2009), where a share of solar energy is stored in building foundation of great heat capacity. For this purpose, an external light-transmitting additional wall has been installed over one side of the building, and air-transmitting means have been installed in the building's thermally insulated foundation perpendicular to the bottom edge of the wall. A disadvantage of such solution is that in the Estonian conditions, the time suitable for accumulation of solar energy is too limited.

[0003] Also known is an energy-efficient building (US4599830A, Nawrot James, published on 15 July 1986) that specifies continuous moisture barrier encompassing two or more storeys of the building. In the case of this solution, the building's second storey floor beam is supported on the first storey internal wall. The roof sheltering the entire building is supported on the first floor external wall. Continuous moisture barrier surrounds the internal wall and living quarters, being installed between the internal and external wall. A disadvantage of such solution is high heat loss.

[0004] A method for constructing energy-efficient buildings is known (NL1009712, Boog Bouw Ontwinneling Onroere, published 26 August 1998). Accordingly to the method, double walls are erected on a foundation; the walls consist of inner and outer layer and the space in-between to which wall insulation is installed. Fully sheltering roof parts are installed to wall upper edges. The wall and roof insulation contains cellulose material. A disadvantage of such solution is the occurrence of cold bridges in the building.

[0005] The solution specified in the European Patent Application "A double-walled skin construction arrangement" (EP1516974, Ramon Collado Arquitecto SL, published on 23 March 2005) is the closest to the invention by its technical nature. The wall structure of this invention consists of two walls - outer and inner wall that are prefabricated and ventilated. There is a non-load-bearing wall between these two walls. The inner and outer walls comprise openable panels being made of glass or a composite material. The two walls are separated by a chamber being aerated through openings being provided in the outer wall. Air-conditioning and/or heating systems are installed in the chamber between the two walls. The windows and doors are installed to apertures in inner wall panels. Disadvantages of such solution include occurrence of cold bridges and relatively high heat losses.

Description of the invention

[0006] In Estonia, most of the buildings are non-energy-efficient. The average annual need for heat is 200-400 kWh/m². The share of energy consumed in connection with use of building amounts to 85-95%, and more than one-half of it is spent on fuel. Therefore, reduction of heating costs is important, which means that the building shell must be rendered heat-proof and heat insulation plays a significant role. Heat insulation is installed in-between wall structure. In order to achieve a good end result, a building is to be viewed as a whole - all of its components must be adequate and the heat conductivity factors of the building's structures (foundation, floor, walls, ceiling, and roof) are to be considered. The essence of an energy-efficient building is that a building shell characterised by excellent air-tightness, heatproofness and lack of cold bridges is constructed. Forced ventilation with heat recovery of high thermal efficiency is used for ventilating such a "thermos".

[0007] The objective of this invention is reduction of heat losses in buildings. For the achievement of this purpose, building structures are enclosed in continuous heat insulation. The building heat insulation contains two separate structures: outer wall structure and inner wall structure with insulation material in-between. The outer wall and inner wall structures are load-bearing structures. Since a building provided with such heat insulation is air-tight, it is equipped with forced ventilation.

[0008] By implementation of this invention it may be possible to limit the need for heating energy of an energy-efficient building to 15-40 kWh/m².

List of figures

[0009] 

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a stone material building.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a timber material building.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0010] In the solution presented, the building structures (floors, walls, ceilings) are completely enclosed in heat insulation forming an airtight envelope or building shell. Such a building functions as a "thermos", for which reason use of forced ventilation is required in the building. The building's wall structure consists of two separated structures: inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2, with heat insulation 3 in-between. The thicknesses of material layers originate from heat calculations of the respective component (for example, material layer thickness for walls is 200 mm and for ceilings and floors 500-600 mm). Air-tightness of the walls is achieved by plastering. Both the inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2 are load-bearing structures; this allows use of thicker heat insulation layer between them.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the building's outer wall structure 1 and inner wall structure 2 are made of stone material, e.g., gas concrete or building material characterised by similar physical properties, in which case the occurring cold bridges are minimal and the building material thus functions as a separate heat insulation component. In case of this preferred embodiment, the outer wall structure 2 supports the roof structure 4, and the doors and windows are installed to the inside of the outer wall structure 2. The inner wall structure 1 is also a load-bearing structure that supports the floors 5 and ceilings 6. Such an airtight building requires forced ventilation, through which the heating solution of the entire building has also been designed.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment, the building's inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2 are made of timber, with doors and windows functioning as penetrating elements that additionally bind the inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2 together. The doors and windows are installed to the inside of the outer wall structure 2. As regards doors and windows, cork, for example, is used around them for limiting cold bridges by interrupting thereof. The inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2 are bound to the foundation 7 below heat insulation 3 and to the ceiling structure 6 and roof structure 4 above heat insulation 3. In order to achieve better air-tightness, vapour barrier membrane permeable towards the outside is used on both inner wall structure 1 and outer wall structure 2.

[0013] According to yet another preferred embodiments, the building's inner structure 1 and outer structure 2 are implemented as panels or modules facilitating construction of the building.

Claims

1. Energy-efficient building with outer shell comprising of two wall structures - inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2), with the building's doors and windows installed in the outer wall structure (2), characterised in that the floor, wall and ceiling structures of the building are enclosed in continuous heat insulation (3), the wall structure comprises of two separated structures: inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) with heat insulation (3) in-between, the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) being load-bearing structures; and that the building is provided with forced ventilation.

2. Energy-efficient building according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) are made of stone material.

3. Energy-efficient building according to claim 2, characterized in that the stone material is gas concrete.

4. Energy-efficient building according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer wall structure (2) functions as the load-bearing structure for the roof structure (4) and that the doors and windows are installed to the inside of outer wall structure (2).

5. Energy-efficient building according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) functions as the load-bearing structure for the floor (5) and ceiling (6).

6. Energy-efficient building according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) are made of timber material.

7. Energy-efficient building according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) are bound to the foundation (7) below heat insulation (3) and that the ceiling structure (6) and roof structure (4) are bound to the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) above heat insulation (3).

8. Energy-efficient building according to claim 6, characterized in that the doors and windows are installed to the inside of outer wall structure (2) and additional heat insulating material has been used around them.

9. Energy-efficient building according to claim 8, characterized in that the additional heat insulation material is cork.

10. Energy-efficient building according to claim 8, characterized in that the doors and windows are penetrating structures binding the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) together.

11. Energy-efficient building according to claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) are manufactured as panels.

12. Energy-efficient building according to claims from 1 to 11, characterized in that the inner wall structure (1) and outer wall structure (2) are manufactured as modules.

Drawing