Sensitivity analysis of window characteristics and their interactions on thermal performance in residential buildings

Abstract

This thesis studies the effects of different window characteristics such as area, conductance and shading on annual energy performance in residential buildings. A single parameter analysis is used to quantify the effect on annual energy due to a change in an individual parameter. However misconceptions about these effects (without regard to the values of the other parameters of the window) lead to predictions that overestimate or underestimate actual savings by neglecting interactions that exist between the parameters. The effect of interactions of two parameter changes is determined in this study using a two parameter analysis technique. This technique uses the difference between changes in annual energy of a parameter at different values of an associated parameter to determine the importance of the interaction effect between the parameters. This interaction effect is used as a measure to determine the important two parameter changes in different orientations for six different climates. The interactions were shown to have significant effects on predicted energy reductions in the six climates studied.