Energy Use of Buildings in Central Argentina

The present work analyzes the consumption of energy of three typologically and technologically different buildings, and its interaction with dimensional, morphological, and thermal indicators. The comparison of heat energy consumed by the conventional and the solar buildings (individual and apartments) allows the evaluation of the energy saved through the use of passive solar techniques and thermal envelopes. The study buildings are located in Santa Rosa (capital of the province of La Pampa) in Argentina. The latitudinal variation of degree days oscillates between 1300 and 1600 C to the north and the south, respectively. The results show the high correlation between the energy consumption and the energy loss through the building’s envelope. In buildings with conventional technology, the envelope (without insulation) reaches a G value of 4.13 W/m3 C, higher than the admissible maximum value stipulated by the N. IRAM 11604 for the study region. The technologically optimized construction through the use of an energy-efficient envelope, a carpentry with double glazing, and a collecting area of 12% with respect to the building’s useful area allowed an energy saving of around 75% during winter. The results confirm the large potential of the solar building design to reach significant levels of energy saving, and the comparison of solar and conventional buildings in terms of natural gas consumption confirms the magnitude of such a potential.