This study empirically verified the effect of solar radiation on the building envelope, with particular emphasis on the generated surface temperature. A model of a cellular concrete block wall with ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) was constructed with varying insulation-plaster configurations, followed by tests in a “sun chamber” aging chamber and numerical analyses. The measurement results were compared with those from the numerical simulations, taking into account the thermal properties of the materials used and the radiation exposure conditions. The purpose of the study was to determine to what extent different types of plasters and insulation materials affect the heating of the façades. Computer simulations confirmed the direction of energy flow and the gradual heating of successive layers. Furthermore, the differences between the material variants were consistent with the experimental observations. By modeling perfectly uniform conditions, the numerical analysis allowed us to limit the impact of radiation variability, resulting in results with reduced error.

This article focuses on aspects related to the physical and thermal parameters of so-called thermal-insulating paints. These materials and systems are used in two different situations: first, as agents reducing surface temperature due to solar radiation, and second, as so-called “thermal-insulating” coatings. The paper focuses on the second aspect of the applications described by the manufacturers and presents the results of the author’s laboratory tests (using an insulated heating box with two different heat sources) and field tests (in situ) on a building façade. The research methodology focuses on contact and thermal imaging measurements to assess the effectiveness and properties of reflective thermal-insulating paints, as well as analyzing their impact on the surface temperature and heat transfer coefficient of building envelopes. The conducted research showed that the use of reflective thermal-insulating paints does not significantly improve the thermal insulation of building envelopes. Measurements of the heat transfer coefficient showed a reduction of 1–7% compared to the reference wall tested. In situ measurements using temperature sensors and thermographic studies confirmed the insignificant impact of reflective thermal insulation paints on the thermal protection of external walls.

The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of climate change on modern low-energy construction. The authors attempted to answer the question whether an existing single-family building that meets the current requirements for a low-energy facility can be called such in terms of ongoing long-term climate changes. Therefore, on the model of the building in question, the ESP-r program analyzed the impact of climate change on energy consumption for both heating and cooling purposes. The SSP2-4.5 scenario (RCP 4.5 according to the IPCC 5th Assessment Report) was adopted, generating future climate parameters for 2050 and 2080, using the HadCM3 model. In order to validate the model, the actual energy consumption values were compared with the values obtained from numerical modeling in the ESP-r program. The final task was to analyze the impact of ongoing climate changes on energy parameters and comfort of use of the facility. Based on the results obtained, the authors concluded that the effect of the changes that take place is the need to introduce an air conditioning system into it in the summer, because the currently existing solution, using a mechanical ventilation system to maintain thermal comfort, is unable to provide the required parameters in the rooms. We are dealing with the phenomenon of excessive temperature increase in the building in the summer. Therefore, the facility currently designed as a low-energy building will require the installation of additional installation systems in the coming years, primarily cooling rooms, which will involve increased energy consumption.

The objective of this analysis was to forecast the energy demand of a tall office building situated within a mid-rise urban context under future climate conditions. The research employed energy simulations conducted using OpenStudio v. 3.9.0 and EnergyPlus software v. 24.2.0, with weather data in TMY format. Climate projections for the years 2050 and 2080 were derived from the HadCM3 model. The morphing method was applied to generate climate data files in EPW format for integration into the building energy simulations. Based on these future weather files, the building’s performance was simulated, accounting for the operation of HVAC systems to determine energy consumption for heating and cooling. The results were compared against a baseline simulation representing contemporary climatic conditions, constructed from data covering the years 2004–2018. The findings indicate that cooling demand will play a decisive role in the total energy consumption of the building.