Overview of Energy Performance of the Maltese Housing Stock

Prof. Vincent BuhagiarDepartment of Environmental Design, Faculty for the Built Environment,

University of Malta

Financing Energy Efficiency in Malta and Italy

Westin Dragonara Resort, St Julians, Malta 22 November 2018

This event is organised by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) in partnership with the UN Environment Finance Initiative in the frame of the Sustainable Energy Investment Forums contract, funded under the EU Horizon 2020 programme

International Protocols, EU Directives, Maltese Legislation

Brundtland Report 1987

Agenda 21 1992

Kyoto Protocol 1997

Johannesburg Earth Summit 2002

Boiler directive 92/42/EEC

SAVE directive 93/76/EEC

Construction Product Directive 89/106/EEC

Energy Performance in Buildings Directorate 2002/91/EC

EPBD Recast 2010/31/EU

Code of Police Laws 1936MEPA Policy and Design Guidance 2005

Technical Guidance F 2006

LN 261 2008

LN 376 2012

International Protocols, EU Directives, Maltese Legislation

The Maltese Climate

Monthly mean 12.4oC - 26.3oC

Mean monthly maximum >30oC between June and September

Mean monthly minimum <5oC in January and February

Ground at a depth of 1m 14oC (March) to 23oC (September)

Design high and low 36oC/5oC

Temperatures in the Maltese Islands

The Maltese Climate

Aim

To aim towards near zero energy housing, without compromising thermal comfort.

A study on Energy Performance in Maltese Homes (Social Housing Building Stock) Courtesy of Justin Zarb, BE&A Dissertation, 2013

Objectives

• To assess occupants’ current lifestyles and attitudes,• To monitor the indoor environment,• To set up an energy simulation model,

• To ultimately identify the potential for retrofitting,• With minimal costs and maximum environmental gains.

Ta’ Giorni Housing Estate, Block C, Malta.

Site Location:

The Pilot study:Ta’ Giorni Housing Estate, Block C, Malta Sample social housing block: built c. 1970.

Block C, Ta’ Giorni

Qualitative Survey (summer)Results

Heat Transfer in Buildings: Controlling The Building Envelope

Wall

orientationTime lag properties

SouthNot critical in Summer; thermal storage in

winter is a priority

EastVery long (14 hours) for release in the

evening or very short

West 8 hour time lag

RoofReceives the highest incident radiation but

heavy roofs are not financially viable.

Building EnvelopeOpaque Elements: Thermal Mass & Insulation

Diurnal temperature distribution and heat transfer mechanism of a building element

Transparent Elements:

Effects of Glazing type

Opaque Elements: Effects of roof colour on internal temperatures

RETROFITTING:

Recommended Interventions

A

MICROCLIMATE

B

PRE-COOL INGRESS AIR

C

INSULATION

D

BALCONIES

1

2

3

4

REPLACE CONCRETE IN PARKING AREAS WITH CELLULAR PAVING BLOCKS OR GRIDS, ALLOWING GRASS TO GROW

WIND CATCHER ABOVE SHAFT FEEDING AIR INTO EAST-ORIENTED FLATS. POTENTIAL COMBINATION WITH DESICCANT OR RADIANT COOLER AT INGRESS POINT.

DOUBLE GLAZING IN WINDOWS

CREATE A SUN SPACE WITHOPENABLE GLAZING

REMOVE SIDE-WALKS AND PLANT TREES ALONG ACCESS ROADS

GROUND PIPES INSTALLED DURING RE-PAVING OF PARKING AREAS, TO BE USED ONLY WITH A CLOSED-WINDOW STRATEGY

INSULATION OF EXTERNALLY- BOUNDING SINGLE-LEAF WALLS (SHAFTS, BALCONY AND KITCHEN)

FULL-LENGTH HEMP ROLL-DOWN CURTAIN WHICH MAY BE LEFT DRY OR MOISTENED IN SUMMER FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLING

EXTERNAL INSULATED SHUTTERS WHICH CAN ALSO SERVE AS SHADES AND/OR WING WALLS IN SUMMER

LIGHT AND INSULATING CARPETS

EWINDOWS

FROOF

GINTERNAL WALLS

HEXTERNAL WALLS

ISHAFTS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

ENCOURAGE NIGHT VENTILATIONPAINT WITH WHITE SELECTIVE ABSORPTION COATING

INSULATE INTERNALLY; CORNER BEDROOMS SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY

SOLAR REFLECTIVECOATING ON WESTFAÇADE

STACK

ADD A SOLAR REFLECTIVE COATING (WEST, SOUTH AND EAST FACADES)

FIXED INSULATION IN COMBINATION WITH THE ABOVE

EXPLOIT ISOLATED INTERNAL THERMAL MASS BY DIRECTLY HEATING AND COOLING.

INSULATE WITH WEATHERBOARD ENSURING THAT THE LIMESTONE REMAINS DRY.

WIND CATCHERS

EXTERNAL MICROBLINDS (COMBINE WITH INTERNALLY OPENING WINDOWS)

RAISED THIN SHEET RADIATOR WITH A VENTILATED AIR GAP

DOWNDRAU-GHT COOLING

THE ABOVE COMBINED

PROJECTING CANOPIES ON SOUTH FACADE SHADE WITH PV PANELS

WITH BUILDINGINTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS

WIND CATCHERS (WING WALLS)

GLAZED STACK ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS BOUNDING THE MASTER BEDROOM OF EACH FLAT

COMBINED TO PROVIDE POSITIVE MOVABLE INSULATIONAND NEGATIVE PRESSURE AT TWO (FURTHER R&DINTERNALLY CONNECTED NECESSARY)APERTURES

INSTALL LOW-E DOUBLE GLAZINGWITH NON-BRIDGING FRAMES,REPLACING THE WINDOW SILLWITH A MICRO-MVHR UNIT.ADD LOW-LEVEL OR THIN-SLITVENTS WHICH MAY BE SEALED ANDINSULATED IN WINTER.

INSULATED EXTERNAL SHUTTERS.

A

MICROCLIMATE

B

PRE-COOL INGRESS AIR

C

INSULATION

D

BALCONIES

1

2

3

4

REPLACE CONCRETE IN PARKING AREAS WITH CELLULAR PAVING BLOCKS OR GRIDS, ALLOWING GRASS TO GROW

WIND CATCHER ABOVE SHAFT FEEDING AIR INTO EAST-ORIENTED FLATS. POTENTIAL COMBINATION WITH DESICCANT OR RADIANT COOLER AT INGRESS POINT.

DOUBLE GLAZING IN WINDOWS

CREATE A SUN SPACE WITHOPENABLE GLAZING

REMOVE SIDE-WALKS AND PLANT TREES ALONG ACCESS ROADS

GROUND PIPES INSTALLED DURING RE-PAVING OF PARKING AREAS, TO BE USED ONLY WITH A CLOSED-WINDOW STRATEGY

INSULATION OF EXTERNALLY- BOUNDING SINGLE-LEAF WALLS (SHAFTS, BALCONY AND KITCHEN)

FULL-LENGTH HEMP ROLL-DOWN CURTAIN WHICH MAY BE LEFT DRY OR MOISTENED IN SUMMER FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLING

EXTERNAL INSULATED SHUTTERS WHICH CAN ALSO SERVE AS SHADES AND/OR WING WALLS IN SUMMER

LIGHT AND INSULATING CARPETS

Roof Retrofitted Removal of concrete screed + ‘Torba’ to lay new insulation and membrane:

Thermal Control & Waterproofing

Walls RetrofittedThermal Control through Insulation:

Laminated external boards, multi-layer plastering

Windows ReplacedThermal Control & Ventilation:

Double glazed, Multiple opening modes

Data Loggers: Air Temperature & %RH sensors

Temperature and Humidity Loggers

Careful selection of location of Data Loggers

Thank You for your attention!