Impact of Dynamic Slab Insulation on Energy Performance of Residential Buildings

In this paper, the energy efficiency potential of applying novel dynamic insulation systems to slab foundations is investigated for residential buildings. Specifically, dynamic insulation allows the foundation to change its thermal resistance to reduce both heating and cooling thermal loads compared to static insulation systems. The energy benefits of the dynamic insulation are evaluated using a validated numerical model integrated with a state-of-art whole-building simulation tool. Specifically, optimal settings for slab-integrated dynamic insulation are determined monthly to reduce heating and cooling thermal loads while maintaining thermal comfort for a prototypical house located in representative US climates. The analysis results indicate that the deployment of slab-integrated dynamic insulation can reduce heating energy by 10% and cooling energy by 39%, and total heating, ventilating, and air conditioning end-use by up to 12%, especially for houses located in cold climates.