Assessing the Thermal Performance of a Conventional Architecture in Dry Warm Climate

Selecting the thermal comfort model to determine the best hygrothermal conditions inside the house during the hot period has a great impact on the energy consumption of buildings in warm climates [1]. Therefore, this article presents the results of the evaluation of the thermal performance of a conventional home in dry warm climate, with case study in Bucaramanga, Colombia. This simulation, evaluation and analysis is necessary since currently in the case study area there is no thermal evaluation of the houses, which are old houses built with resistive and mechanical analysis, but without taking into account the thermal behavior or thermal comfort of housing. This evaluation is performed by means of simulation in software. Thus, for a valid simulation, the meteorological data present in the dry warm climate zone are identified, and the geographical location and behavior in the solar diagram are determined. Likewise, the thermal characterization of the soil and the constructive materials of support and envelopes of the architecture is carried out, to establish its thermal transmittance, thermal resistance and thermal capacity. As a result of the research, the thermal behavior of the house is presented through the calculations made that determine the thermal behavior of the envelopes, the balance of energy loads and the thermal housing comfort based on the ASHRAE 55 standard by the Fanger method.