Build tight, ventilate right; would still need energy might?

This work analyses the energy retrofit context of how exposure of thermal mass (solid brick wall composition case) to the indoor environment impacts a building’s energy use and indoor comfort temperature. The review of literature so far has shown that studies on thermal mass are skewed toward hot climate regions, focussing on how that aids in delaying solar heat gain over summer days and maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures when supported by night time ventilation. However, in the cold climate context of the UK, the role of thermal mass is less well understood when blocked or exposed to an indoor environment, due to the addition of insulation. Based on the dynamic simulation method, the work proves the hypothesis that externally insulating thermal mass aids in reducing the rate of heat loss as well as maintaining or even elevating indoor comfort temperature than an uninsulated case. The outcome of the analysis will aid in developing Post-retrofit performance Assessment (PrA) guidance for ready-use by architects and building professionals.