Simulation assessment of bioclimatic strategies to improve thermal behaviour of a lightweight building prototype

In Uruguay, get more often the use of lightweight building system with low thermal inertia to build dwelling for low resources people, for that reason it is essential to rationalize costs. The studies made, the users opinion and technical information available showed that it is necessary to investigate about lightweight building system so as to improve its thermal behaviour. The aim of the task was to identify the influence of some passive design strategies in the interior temperature fluctuation and energy consume of a lightweight prototype located in Montevideo, Uruguay. The prototype is made with polystyrene panels finished with metallic sheet. Methodology: Temperatures and humidity have been being collected during the application of different strategies: solar protection, thermal mass and solar protection plus thermal mass. Ventilation strategy was use as a control variable. The same strategies were analysed to asses its thermal performance by running the simulation programs. First of all it was determinated which of the programs faithfully represented the thermal performance of the prototype, choosing: Simedif program. Results: The evaluation by predicted performance shows that the most energy efficient strategy is the one which associate solar protection and thermal mass.