Energy efficiency in buildings and according to degree day regions of determination of optimum insulation thickness with different materials

Energy costs are high in our country, so energy efficiency is becoming important and laws and regulations are formed. Energy performance of buildings directive which issued according to the Energy Efficiency Law, is some of these arrangements. The purpose of the directive is to regulate the rules related to environmental protection and rational use of energy in buildings. Therefore, insulation applications in buildings are now a requirement by regulation.The purpose of this thesis is to emphasize the importance of insulation and determine the optimum thickness of insulation and energy benefits of the typical building for Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara and Erzurum. TS 825 Thermal Insulation Standard and Life Cost Analysis methods were used for determining the optimum thickness of insulation. The TS 825 Heat Losses Program was used for determining the optimum insulation thickness which was prepared by İZODER (Association of Thermal Insulation Water Sound and Fire). TS 825 standard divide our country in four climatic zones and defined the average temperature values for each region. In this study, we have also made calculations based on the average outdoor temperature for each city reported by the General Directorate of State Meteorology between the years 1975-2011 and compared the two results. TS 825 standard is a method to determine the heat loss according to environmental conditions and building structure then calculates the annual energy needs of the building. Optimum thermal insulation thickness is determined by the values of heat loss permitted by the standard. On the other hand optimum thermal insulation thickness is calculated according to fuel and material costs for a given life time in the Life Cost Analysis method. The results of calculations made by these two methods are shown in tables and graphs.