Energy Consumption Analysis of Building Exterior Walls with Phase Change Materials under Extreme Low Temperature Conditions

Global energy demand is steadily increasing, and climate change is becoming more severe. In extremely cold regions, building energy consumption has gained increasing attention. Traditional materials struggle to provide sufficient insulation, leading to higher heating loads and energy costs. This study explores the use of phase change materials (PCM) in building exterior walls to improve energy efficiency and thermal regulation. This study focuses on an apartment in Yakutsk, Russia, to evaluate the impact of different PCM thicknesses on energy savings. Climate data files are modified to reflect the thermal regulation of phase change materials, and EnergyPlus software is used to simulate and analyze different PCM thicknesses. The simulation results show that PCM thickness significantly impacts energy savings. Between 0 mm and 30 mm, increasing the thickness improves energy efficiency, but the gain gradually decreases beyond this range. The simulation data indicate that a 15 mm PCM thickness is optimal, offering significant energy savings and cost benefits. Future research should focus on the long-term performance of PCM and its integration with other sustainable technologies to maximize its value in building systems