Renovation of a Multi-family-house with External Wall Heating System

A new and cost-effective heating concept integrated in a prefabricated façade for renovation of multi-familyhouses was investigated in the framework of the European project PLURAL with the help of dynamic building and system simulations. The concept consists of a prefabricated insulated timber-frame façade containing the heating pipes of a low temperature hydronic distribution system for space heating. After renovation, the building can be heated with these heating pipes through the existing external walls. The simulation results show that such a system can ensure good thermal comfort for the flats and fulfill Nearly Zero Energy Building requirements. An optimized control strategy of the heating system allows to increase the photovoltaic self-consumption and to decrease the net costs for electricity of the building. Under certain conditions, such a system is a beneficial solution for fast and cost-effective renovation of multi-family-houses.