Analysis of Thermal Comfort of the Building Envelope Using an Earth-Air Heat Exchanger

The constructive elements of a building influence the demand for electrical energy, and optimal decisions can be assessed with the support of software that measures this building's demand more accurately. The objective of this research is to assess the thermal behavior of a residential dwelling located in bioclimatic zone 2 in the southern region of Brazil, seeking energy sources that contribute to improving thermal comfort. The study utilizes parameters that reduce the thermal demand for cooling and heating by installing an earth-air heat exchanger (EAHE) in the prolonged occupancy enviroments (POEs) within the building. The results obtained in the EnergyPlus software show that the adaptive comfort of the model with the Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE), compared to without it, reduces cold discomfort by 5.4% and increases thermal comfort in the building by 5.2%. Analyzing the annual temperatures of the spaces with the EAHE, it is observed that the outlet temperature of the EAHE duct remains at an average of 23.6°C and 23.8°C for the living room and bedrooms, respectively. From an energy perspective, the electrical energy consumption of the building was reduced by 29.8% when using the EAHE.