Comparative Analysis of Airtightness and Heating/Cooling Energy Demand Before and After Energy Performance Improvement of Aging Buildings

Ji-Soo Jeon; Jong-Il Park; Jeong-Man Choi

doi:10.22696/jkiaebs.20260005

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2026 Vol.20, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Comparative Analysis of Airtightness and Heating/Cooling Energy Demand Before and After Energy Performance Improvement of Aging Buildings 노후 건축물 에너지 성능 개선 공사 전·후 기밀성능 및 냉난방에너지 요구량 비교 분석

28 February 2026. pp. 50-59

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Abstract

This study empirically analyzes the impact of airtightness on actual energy performance by measuring airtightness and heating and cooling energy demand before and after energy performance improvement projects in aging buildings. A total of nine buildings were evaluated using Blower Door Tests based on ISO 9972 and energy simulations based on ISO 13790. The results confirmed statistically significant improvements in both heating and cooling energy demand and airtightness performance following the retrofits. However, an analysis by building scale revealed a distinct limitation: unlike small-scale buildings, large-scale buildings exhibited a markedly lower rate of airtightness improvement. Furthermore, among heat loss factors, infiltration was identified as the variable with the highest fluctuation, indicating that structural complexity in larger buildings poses a significant risk to energy efficiency. These findings imply that conventional approaches, primarily focused on replacing insulation and windows, have limitations in securing adequate airtightness for large-scale buildings due to their complex mechanical penetrations. Consequently, this study suggests the necessity of introducing institutional management standards for airtightness and establishing differentiated construction management guidelines based on building scale to ensure stable energy saving effects in energy retrofit projects.

Keywords

에너지 성능개선

기밀성능

침기

건물 에너지 효율

노후 건축물

키워드

Energy performance improvement

Airtightness

Air infiltration

Building energy efficiency

aging buildings

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Information

Publisher :Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems
Publisher(Ko) :한국건축친환경설비학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems
Journal Title(Ko) :한국건축친환경설비학회논문집
Volume : 20
No :1
Pages :50-59
Received Date : 2025-12-12
Revised Date : 2025-12-23
Accepted Date : 2025-12-24
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22696/jkiaebs.20260005

Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building Systems ISSN:1976-6483(Print) 2586-0666(Online) 한국건축친환경설비학회논문집

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