The energy and resource demand of the building stock in China is in total many time es higher than for buildings in Germany. The rapid construction activity means that the efforts made in Germany are only relevant, if similar targets are adopted also in countries like China and if climate adapted measures are implemented locally. In this sense a simulation study of a typical residential room module has been conducted in order to identify climate adapted and lifecycle optimized wall constructions in 26 climates in China. Therein opaque wall elements have been improved stepwise in their insulation capacity. For a constant room and operation configuration the energy demand for heating and cooling has been determined. Following, selected materials have been assigned to the external wall. It has been calculated for which layer thickness the last added centimetre has an energy payback time within the useful life (30, 60 and 100 years). Furthermore the room was turned in the four compass points and the thicknesses have been determined. It has been shown, that in all climates a certain insulation capacity is required, but that in southern China monolithic walls, for example made from aerated concrete, are optimal and sufficient. It is concluded that large part of the global new construction volume could be constructed with energy and resource optimized wall elements that are also able to be recycled.
Schwede, D; Lu, Y
Life-Cycle oriented development of opaque wall elements in various climate zones in China
Bauphysik