Building Refurbishment example continued

Using values of thermal properties from the CIBSE guide Part A, the following u-values were
estimated, and the areas assessed from a survey of the building.
U
(W/sq.m.K)

A
(sq.m)

U.A
(W/K)

% Fabric
loss

% Total heat
loss

Roof

2.3

190

437

25.1

19.9

Floor

0.9

170

153

8.8

7.0

Walls

2.3

400

920

52.9

41.8

Windows

5.7

40

228

13.1

10.4

UA

1738

Infiltration = 2.0 ac/hr

Ventilation conductance =
TLC

462 W/K

% Total
heat loss
21

2200 W/K

The Original Building Fabric. The sash windows are ill-fitting and allow draughts to enter,
and the original flues allow some ventilation. The infiltration rate has therefore been set at 2
air changes per hour.
Ventilation conductance is therefore 0.22 x 2 x 700 = 462W/K.
The total conductance 1738 + 462 = 2200 W/K.
Using a 20-year average degree day value for the location of 2500Dd, the annual space
heating demand is
= 2200 x 2500 x 0.024
= 132,000kWh

Allowing a factor of 0.7 for intermittent heating, and 60% for the boiler efficiency, this
equates to an energy requirement of
=132000 x 0.7 x 1/0.6
= 154,000kWh
The usable floor area of the building is 320m2. Therefore heating energy use per m2
= 154000/320
= 481.25kWh/m2
This compares extremely unfavourably with the good and typical values of 79 and 151
quoted in the CIBSE Guide part F (Energy Efficiency in Buildings available on
info4education). At approximately 6 times the good value, there is clearly huge scope for
improving the heating performance of the building. Hot water and cooking energy
consumption are each estimated at approximately 3000kWh per year.
(Cooking: 4kW x 2 hours = 8kWh/day for 365 days = 2920 kWh
Hot water 90kg x 40 K x 4182 x 2 (2 people) per day for 365 days = 8.3 kWh/day =
3052kWh/year)

The other main supply of energy is electricity. In its original use as a dwelling, electricity was
used mainly for lighting and in the central heating pump. A quick assessment is made below.
Lighting say 3 rooms at a time each with a 100W tungsten bulb, for 4 hours a day throughout
the year, gives annual consumption of 432kWh/year. Central heating pump 150 days
heating season, 2kW at 6 hours a day = 1800kWh.

%
Energy

Application

kWh

Cost

% cost

Space
Heating

154000

94.9

6930

93

Water
heating

3000

1.8

135

1.8

Cooking

3000

1.8

135

1.8

Lighting

432

0.2

47.52

0.6

Other

1800

1.1

198

2.6

Total

162232

7445

Estimated Original Energy Consumption and costs.

The total electricity consumption amounts to 7kWh/m2 per year, far below the figures for a
good office, however a direct comparison is not realistic, as far more electricity will be
consumed when it is in use as an office. There will be a desktop computer for each of the ten
employees and a photocopier and 2 printers. The house should be rewired as a matter of
course, and the wiring upgraded to allow for greater consumption. At the same time data
cabling can be installed for a LAN and internet connections. A server will be required and
can be housed in one of the refurbished outhouses; with appropriate ventilation, cooling will
not be required for the server. Compact fluorescent lighting will produce a high level of
savings over incandescent lamps.