Materials Deterioration, A Key Factor On Reducing the Energy Efficiency

In our country, Albania, there are many masonry building mainly with brick walls, built in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. All these structures have been subject to different kind of damages during these years because of: structure deterioration, seismic loads, atmospheric aggressive conditions, corrosion, accidental events, etc. One of the main damages is the one caused by materials deterioration; the reduction of their physical-mechanical properties. This deterioration is the responsible for the reduction of the thermal comfort. The principal factor for this reduction is the coefficient of thermal conductivity, since it determines the amount of the energy loss in buildings. But, how much has this coefficient been reduced? Is the present value equal with the theoretical values that was Thisresearch analyses a building’s deterioration mechanism and presents different ways of energy retrofits targeting an optimal value of energy loss. This study will be focused in determining the real state of the actual energetic performance and how it has changes fromthe initial predicted one. The final aim of this paper will be the retrofit for improving the energy efficiency based on energy consumption and retrofit cost. The method used for assessment of energy retrofit will be based in computer analysis of a chosen structure modelwill the help of DesignBuilder software.