Please find below links to papers prepared by the Skyrad team:
Investigating the Energy Efficiency of a Victorian Terraced House, by Philip Yorke
Abstract
Energy usage was monitored in a Victorian terraced house in Cambridge for half a year. Usage was divided into 5 categories; lighting, appliance usage, cooking, hot water and space heating, with a view to identifying the ease and scope of savings which could be made in each of these five areas. Energy monitoring involved the usage of a smart meter and a smart plug for electronic readings, and a data logger and thermistor array coupled with computer simulations for gas usage. It was found that common energy saving methods including the installation of an energy efficient boiler, double glazing, energy efficient light bulbs and loft insulation meant that the building ranked in the top 10% in the country. It was also found that overall energy consumption in the house was greatly influenced by thermal gains from the neighbouring houses, as well as occupant behaviour.
Link: Energy Efficiency Victorian House
Dynamic Behaviour of External and Internal Wall Insulation, by Dr Sam Bailey
Abstract
The dynamic behavior of Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) and External Wall Insulation (EWI), the two existing techniques for reducing heat loss through building walls is not always well understood. Using EWI results in a high thermal mass on the internal insulated side of the building wall, IWI places the thermal mass on the outside. Given equal thermal masses and equal levels of insulation, it would be reasonable to expect equal heat flow, and hence the same thermal behavior from both. This paper uses some basic analysis from control theory and computer simulations to show that the dynamic behavior is substantially different when allowing for additional heat transfer paths other than through the walls.
Link: EWI vs IWI