Energy Renovation of Buildings Utilizing the U-value Meter, a New Heat Loss Measuring Device.docVIP

Sustainability 2010, 2, 461-474; doi:10.3390/su2020461 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Article Energy Renovation of Buildings Utilizing the U-value Meter, a New Heat Loss Measuring Device Lars Schi?tt S?rensen HT-Meter ApS., Mosedraget 17, N?debo, 3480 Fredensborg, Denmark; E-Mail: info@ht-meter.dk; Tel.: +45-26-300936 or +45-48-471718. Received: 15 December 2009 / Accepted: 22 January 2010 / Published: 29 January 2010 Abstract: A new device with the ability to measure heat loss from building facades is proposed. Yet to be commercially developed, the U-value Meter can be used as stand-alone apparatus, or in combination with thermographic-equipment. The U-value meter complements thermographs, which only reproduce surface temperature and not the heat loss distribution. There is need for a device that measures the heat loss in a quantitative manner. Convective as well as radiative heat losses are captured and measured with a five-layer thermal system. Heat losses are measured in the SI-unit W/m2K. The aim is to achieve more cost-effective building renovation, and provide a means to check the fulfillment of Building Regulation requirements with respect to stated U-values (heat transmission coefficients). In this way it should be possible to greatly reduce energy consumption of buildings. Keywords: heat loss measuring; energy renovation; conductivity; thermal radiation 1. Introduction 1.1. Introduction to Energy Renovation Building owners, particularly in temperate regions of the world, are able to decrease heating costs remarkably with a rational energy renovation of their buildings. This is proven by measurements of different houses, built in different decades of the past century. A few examples are described for houses from the Nineteen-twenties and the Nineteen-seventies in a case study later in this paper. Heating accou