Zero emission building envelopes -­ numerical simulations of a well-­insulated building with phase change material panels integrated in the floor

In this paper, numerical building energy simulations were  carried  out  with  weather  data  for  Karasjok,  Stuttgart  and  Seville,  to  evaluate  the  energy  saving potential of a floor with integrated PCM panels.  The  reference  case  was  a  lightweight  wood  frame  floor  construction.  The  effect  of  adding  different thicknesses  of  PCM,  concrete  and  wood  was  investigated. The main conclusions are: 

--There  is  a  significant  energy  saving potential  by  adding  thermal  mass  in  the  warmer climates in Stuttgart and Seville. 

---PCM  has  generally  the  best  energy  saving potential, but the advantage of using PCM is decreasing when the thickness is increasing.