A Comparison of American, Canadian, and European Home Energy Performance in Heating Dominated – Moist Climates Based on Building Codes Stephanie M
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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 2014 A Comparison of American, Canadian, and European Home Energy Performance in Heating Dominated – Moist Climates Based on Building Codes Stephanie M. Berkland University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Part of the Construction Engineering Commons, and the Other Architecture Commons Berkland, Stephanie M., "A Comparison of American, Canadian, and European Home Energy Performance in Heating Dominated – Moist Climates Based on Building Codes" (2014). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1173. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1173 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. 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A Comparison of American, Canadian, and European Home Energy Performance in Heating Dominated – Moist Climates Based on Building Codes A Thesis Presented by STEPHANIE BERKLAND Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE February 2014 Environmental Conservation © Copyright by Stephanie Berkland 2014 All Rights Reserved A COMPARISON OF AMERICAN, CANADIAN, AND EUROPEAN HOME ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN HEATING DOMINATED – MOIST CLIMATES BASED ON BUILDING CODES A Thesis Presented by STEPHANIE BERKLAND Approved as to style and content by: ________________________________ Simi Hoque, Chair ________________________________ Paul Fisette, Member ________________________________ Benjamin Weil, Member ________________________________ Anton Kraler, Consulting Member Curt Griffin, Department Head of Environmental Conservation ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Simi Hoque, for her support and encouragement throughout my graduate course work and thesis research. She provided great guidance and pushed me to always reach for my fullest potential. I would also like to thank my committee members Paul Fisette and Ben Weil for their feedback and guidance throughout this process. Additionally, I would also like to thank a consulting member of my committee, Anton Kraler, for his feedback, translation of Austrian building codes, and guidance on the Austrian portions of this research. I would also like to thank my fellow classmate, Sandy Beauregard, for sharing in this experience together, providing an ear to listen, and feedback on my research. This research would also not have been possible without the love and support of friends and family. Thank you to all who kept asking how things were going, it helped push and motivate me! This research was supported by the McIntire-Stennis Grant and the Healey Endowment Grant. iv ABSTRACT A COMPARISON OF AMERICAN, CANADIAN, AND EUROPEAN HOME ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN HEATING DOMINATED – MOIST CLIMATES BASED ON BUILDING CODES FEBRUARY 2014 STEPHANIE MARIE BERKLAND, B.S., UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Simi T. Hoque This research compares the energy performance of a code-built residential building within the moist climate zone classification in Canada, Europe, and the Northeastern United States. The primary objectives are to reveal how specific differences in code requirements in similar climates influence a building’s energy profile, offer a means to quantify and evaluate the extent of energy savings as a result of each requirement, and provide a comparison of each location’s building culture and how this affects the standards in place. Using the building energy simulation tool, DesignBuilder EnergyPlus Simulation, a model single-family home was created and input energy code requirements for each location. An evaluation of each location’s building culture is examined through such factors as the training of building professionals, commonly used materials and products, energy reduction goals, and cultural attitudes. The results of this study point to the need for more advanced building v practices, stricter code mandates, and higher performing products based on energy savings achieved from buildings built to different standards in equivalent climate zones. This has the potential to drive the development and use of better performing building materials and assemblies in the future. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .....................................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 Buildings and Energy .............................................................................................................. 1 Problem Statement and Implications ............................................................................... 3 2. BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................. 5 History of U.S. Building Codes ............................................................................... 5 U.S. Energy Codes and Standards ......................................................................... 8 Code Compliance Paths ..........................................................................................10 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................11 EnergyPlus ..................................................................................................................12 DesignBuilder EnergyPlus Simulation .............................................................15 Climate Zone Specific Energy Simulation Studies .......................................17 3. FRAMING THE BUILDING SCENE .....................................................................................19 United States ............................................................................................................................20 Historical Characteristics ......................................................................................20 Present Day Characteristics .................................................................................25 Canada ........................................................................................................................................31 Historical Characteristics ......................................................................................31 Present Day Characteristics .................................................................................37 Europe.........................................................................................................................................42 vii Historical Characteristics ......................................................................................42 Present Day Characteristics .................................................................................47 4. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................52 Assumptions .............................................................................................................................52 Simulation Tool .........................................................................................................52 House Prototype .......................................................................................................53 Climate/Locations ....................................................................................................57 Weather Data .............................................................................................................60 Model Inputs ..............................................................................................................60 Set Points/Schedules ..............................................................................................61 5. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................64 Whole Building and Heating Energy Use ......................................................................64 Heating System Design .........................................................................................................68 Heating Loss ...............................................................................................................68 Heating Design ..........................................................................................................74 Whole Building Simulation .................................................................................................77 Internal Gains ............................................................................................................77