Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain

This study examines the impact of thermal insulation-based renovations on the overheating risk in residential buildings across different climatic conditions in Spain. While the European Union (EU) regulations aim to improve energy efficiency in buildings, increasing thermal insulation can lead to si...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Arbulu Markel, Otaegi Jorge, Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo, Oregi Xabat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental and Climate Technologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0030
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849225045503639552
author Arbulu Markel
Otaegi Jorge
Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo
Oregi Xabat
author_facet Arbulu Markel
Otaegi Jorge
Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo
Oregi Xabat
author_sort Arbulu Markel
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the impact of thermal insulation-based renovations on the overheating risk in residential buildings across different climatic conditions in Spain. While the European Union (EU) regulations aim to improve energy efficiency in buildings, increasing thermal insulation can lead to significant energy savings, especially in areas with high heating demand. However, excessive insulation may raise indoor temperatures, increasing the risk of overheating. The research focuses on a typical multi-family residential building from the 1960s and 1970s, initially lacking insulation, and analyses various renovation strategies in different climatic conditions in Spain. The study evaluates four types of passive renovations—facade exterior insulation, roof insulation, window replacement, and their combination – at three efficiency levels – basic, national building code (NBC) required, and EnerPHit standard. A three-stage methodology is employed: identifying archetypes and renovation strategies, conducting a Building Performance Simulation (BPS), and assessing overheating hours based on the CIBSE thermal comfort model. Results reveal that climatic conditions significantly influence overheating risks, identifying critical zones in Spain where overheating may be a concern. The findings suggest that these areas require more targeted solutions to prevent overheating while improving energy efficiency through renovations.
format Article
id doaj-art-a99c878a6e854fa294ce6d399c9ddd94
institution Kabale University
issn 2255-8837
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series Environmental and Climate Technologies
spelling doaj-art-a99c878a6e854fa294ce6d399c9ddd942025-08-25T06:12:11ZengSciendoEnvironmental and Climate Technologies2255-88372025-01-0129144745910.2478/rtuect-2025-0030Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in SpainArbulu Markel0Otaegi Jorge1Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo2Oregi Xabat3CAVIAR Research Group, Department of Architecture, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Oñati, 2, 20018 Donostia – San Sebastián, SpainCAVIAR Research Group, Department of Architecture, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Oñati, 2, 20018 Donostia – San Sebastián, SpainCAVIAR Research Group, Department of Architecture, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Oñati, 2, 20018 Donostia – San Sebastián, Spain4Department of Architecture, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Plaza Oñati, 2, 20018 Donostia, San Sebastián, SpainThis study examines the impact of thermal insulation-based renovations on the overheating risk in residential buildings across different climatic conditions in Spain. While the European Union (EU) regulations aim to improve energy efficiency in buildings, increasing thermal insulation can lead to significant energy savings, especially in areas with high heating demand. However, excessive insulation may raise indoor temperatures, increasing the risk of overheating. The research focuses on a typical multi-family residential building from the 1960s and 1970s, initially lacking insulation, and analyses various renovation strategies in different climatic conditions in Spain. The study evaluates four types of passive renovations—facade exterior insulation, roof insulation, window replacement, and their combination – at three efficiency levels – basic, national building code (NBC) required, and EnerPHit standard. A three-stage methodology is employed: identifying archetypes and renovation strategies, conducting a Building Performance Simulation (BPS), and assessing overheating hours based on the CIBSE thermal comfort model. Results reveal that climatic conditions significantly influence overheating risks, identifying critical zones in Spain where overheating may be a concern. The findings suggest that these areas require more targeted solutions to prevent overheating while improving energy efficiency through renovations.https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0030bps (building performance simulation)climateenergy renovationenerphitnational building code (nbc)thermal comfortthermal insulation
spellingShingle Arbulu Markel
Otaegi Jorge
Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo
Oregi Xabat
Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
Environmental and Climate Technologies
bps (building performance simulation)
climate
energy renovation
enerphit
national building code (nbc)
thermal comfort
thermal insulation
title Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
title_full Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
title_fullStr Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
title_full_unstemmed Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
title_short Overheating Risk Assessment in Insulation-Based Energy Renovations in Spain
title_sort overheating risk assessment in insulation based energy renovations in spain
topic bps (building performance simulation)
climate
energy renovation
enerphit
national building code (nbc)
thermal comfort
thermal insulation
url https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0030
work_keys_str_mv AT arbulumarkel overheatingriskassessmentininsulationbasedenergyrenovationsinspain
AT otaegijorge overheatingriskassessmentininsulationbasedenergyrenovationsinspain
AT rodriguezvidalinigo overheatingriskassessmentininsulationbasedenergyrenovationsinspain
AT oregixabat overheatingriskassessmentininsulationbasedenergyrenovationsinspain