Thermo-energetic performance of a CLT housing using computer simulations for different Brazilian climates.

Abstract

Given the need for the construction sector to use renewable materials that minimize environmental impacts and can contribute to thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption of buildings, the use of engineered wood as building elements for different types of buildings, especially of CLT (Cross Laminated Timber), has been highlighted. Therefore, it is essential to study the thermal performance of these elements when applied to the building envelope. This paper aimed to analyze the thermo-energetic performance of a CLT building system of Pinus taeda through computer simulations for a house located in four Brazilian cities in different bioclimatic zones (BZ). For this, were used the computer simulation program EnergyPlus version 23.1.0 and the recommendations of the Brazilian standard for the thermal performance of dwellings, ABNT NBR 15.575-1:2021. The values of temperature inside the dwelling, the percentage of occupancy hours within an operating temperature range, and the total thermal loads for a real model and a reference model were compared. The results showed that in cities with milder climates, such as Curitiba (BZ 1) and Brasilia (BZ 4) CLT achieved higher levels of thermal performance for the dwelling unit, but in cities with warmer climates, such as Recife (BZ 8) and Teresina (BZ 7), only the minimum level of thermal performance was achieved in the dwellings. It was concluded that CLT presents itself as a promising technology for more energy efficient Brazilian dwellings, especially in milder climates. Further studies on its thermal behavior in warmer climates are necessary in order to promote more satisfactory performance levels.