Adding Thermal Mass During Refurbishment
The fluctuation of temperatures within a building can be an issue as it involves the use of air-conditioning or the heating system. In the 1960s, scientists started to develop and experiment PCMs (phase-change materials) which have for advantage to store and release the heat when needed. Thanks to it, a reduction of up to eight […]
What is thermal mass?
Thermal mass, in the most general sense, describes the ability of any material to store heat. For material to providea useful level of thermal mass, a combination of three basic properties is required: High specific heat capacity-To maximise the heat that can be stored per kg of material. High density-To maximise the overall weight of […]
Benefits of designing with thermal mass?
Exploiting thermal mass on a year-round basis is not difficult, but does require consideration at the outset of the design process when requirements for the building form, fabric and orientation are being established. Providing this is done sympathetically, a more passive approach to design can realise benefits which include: Enhanced energy efficiency and carbon savings […]
