Thermal Balance Analysis in a Light Steel Frame Residence with Different Insulation Material Thickness

Sustainability and efficiency are concepts that have been spreading in civil construction. Among all building types, residential buildings have great potential for energy savings. It is where building strategies need to be carefully planned, as they seek to meet the needs of residents, and also provide security and comfort. Well-designed houses will also provide resource saving over time, as they add climate analysis, design strategy studies and appropriate materials to their design. In order to verify a Light Steel Frame house behavior regarding energy consumption for heating and cooling, this paper aims to evaluate walls and roofs with layer different thickness of rock wool and expanded polystyrene as insulation materials. The applied methodology to obtain energy efficiency will be through analysis in the software Design Builder®. The constructions in Portugal are mainly made of masonry and the search for alternative construction solutions aimed at complying with Directive (EU) 2018/844 is relevant. A drastic change in collective thinking will be necessary. This article aims to show as result the energy efficiency of Light Steel Framing construction solutions, presenting the materials which have the greatest benefits regarding energy consumption.