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At present, the office buildings built in Italy before the first energy regulations of the '70s show a growing energy consumption for heating and cooling. The electrical energy demand for summer cooling is increasing, too. Among the possible strategies, thermal insulation of the building envelope is a common solution to reduce energy needs. However, in buildings with high internal thermal loads and/or located in climates characterized by warm summers and mild winters, an excessive insulation thickness, although in compliance with legal requirements, may be counterproductive. In this paper, by using a dynamic energy simulation software (Design Builder), a case study is analyzed concerning the energetic and economic impacts of thermal insulation applied on the external side of an existing office building. The chosen Mediterranean localities are Palermo, Rome, Milan and Cairo. Increasing internal thermal loads (10, 20, 30 W/m) are considered. The results show that hyper-insulation of buildings is not convenient in the considered climates. In two localities (Palermo and Rome), the optimal insulation thickness is lower than that needed to meet the regulations on energy saving in buildings. Finally, PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) index for some disadvantaged rooms is shown to consider also the thermal comfort requirements.

A Technical and Economic Analysis on Optimal Thermal Insulation Thickness for Existing Office Building in Mediterranean Climates