ENERGY RETROFITTING CONSIDERATION WHEN RENOVATING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS FOR THERMAL COMFORT

Abstract

Though largely overlooked when it comes to renovation, thermal comfort is a well-known terminology in architecture. In order to attain comfort in terms of indoor quality and functionality, building maintenance is done throughout its existence. People refurbish their homes during every festive season all across the world, perpetuating a trend that has existed for years. The study area is chosen inside the Kathmandu valley which is known to have the most comfortable weather conditions but poor building envelope systems. The paper highlights the importance of climate responsive design with respect to thermal insulation in residential buildings. It has been addressed that, cold homes are a contributing factor to health issues and can also be psychologically unproductive. In order to examine the existing level of comfort that building residents are experiencing, the research uses a case study of a residential building. Additionally, recommendations for achieving consistent thermal comfort are made. This article compares the existing state of residential buildings, analyzes it, and offers additional ways to address the problems that its residents may be experiencing. Since energy consumption in residential structures is rising quickly, efficient energy use in the residential sector is a major challenge. Consideration should be given to three fundamental factors: thermal comfort, air quality comfort, and visual comfort. Consequently, it is noted that one of the key variables is thermal comfort.