ᐅ Y-Tong vs. Concrete Without Additional Insulation in Practice (Heating Costs)
Created on: 28 Feb 2019 17:02
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Keishadow
We are about to start building a house using Ytong blocks without additional insulation, with underfloor heating and a heat pump.
Nevertheless, I am interested in this comparison and roughly how much higher heating costs in percentage terms could be expected, if that can even be calculated.
Energy saving is a big focus nowadays. That’s why Ytong was recommended to us, suggesting that extra insulation might not be necessary. The walls can breathe, and the U-value is sufficient. However, the problem with the U-value is that it is a "laboratory value." In practical situations, the sun shines outside, even in winter! Materials with high density like concrete, calcium silicate blocks, etc., are warmed by the sun and can transfer that heat inside the house. Ytong heats up less strongly but retains the interior heat for longer. The same issue applies to triple-glazed windows. They keep the heat inside better but don’t allow the interior space to warm up as much when the sun shines. This puts the U-value into perspective and makes calculating the actual energy consumption for heating somewhat complicated.
If you also factor in air conditioning, which is used in summer to cool a Ytong house, it gets even more complex. Concrete, on the other hand, could keep the interior cooler in summer, potentially allowing one to avoid air conditioning altogether, which saves energy again.
So, it could well be that the difference in heating costs is not as significant as expected in the end. However, with concrete, you might enjoy significantly more comfortable temperatures during the summer.
Does anyone have experience with this? Perhaps someone lives in a concrete house without insulation and can share insights about the indoor climate and heating costs? I would be really interested to hear what comes out of it...
Nevertheless, I am interested in this comparison and roughly how much higher heating costs in percentage terms could be expected, if that can even be calculated.
Energy saving is a big focus nowadays. That’s why Ytong was recommended to us, suggesting that extra insulation might not be necessary. The walls can breathe, and the U-value is sufficient. However, the problem with the U-value is that it is a "laboratory value." In practical situations, the sun shines outside, even in winter! Materials with high density like concrete, calcium silicate blocks, etc., are warmed by the sun and can transfer that heat inside the house. Ytong heats up less strongly but retains the interior heat for longer. The same issue applies to triple-glazed windows. They keep the heat inside better but don’t allow the interior space to warm up as much when the sun shines. This puts the U-value into perspective and makes calculating the actual energy consumption for heating somewhat complicated.
If you also factor in air conditioning, which is used in summer to cool a Ytong house, it gets even more complex. Concrete, on the other hand, could keep the interior cooler in summer, potentially allowing one to avoid air conditioning altogether, which saves energy again.
So, it could well be that the difference in heating costs is not as significant as expected in the end. However, with concrete, you might enjoy significantly more comfortable temperatures during the summer.
Does anyone have experience with this? Perhaps someone lives in a concrete house without insulation and can share insights about the indoor climate and heating costs? I would be really interested to hear what comes out of it...
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nordanney1 Mar 2019 08:00Keishadow schrieb:
It's called vapor-permeable. Exterior plaster, interior plaster, wallpaper, or painter’s fleece don’t care at all what kind of wall is behind them. It may be vapor-permeable or breathable (there are many nice promises from manufacturers), but if it’s well sealed or wrapped, it’s pointless. It’s like wearing high-tech vapor-permeable sportswear and then putting a plain old rubber raincoat over it...
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Steffen801 Mar 2019 08:26The most expensive house on our street is currently being built (something around 4 to 5 million EUR) entirely from: CONCRETE *tada*. With a thick phase-change insulation layer on top. Ok... about two-thirds of the surfaces are probably glass.
Why are they building it from concrete? I’m not exactly sure, but I suspect it’s due to structural reasons. I think it’s cool. It will definitely be the last house standing on our street.
Why are they building it from concrete? I’m not exactly sure, but I suspect it’s due to structural reasons. I think it’s cool. It will definitely be the last house standing on our street.
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nordanney1 Mar 2019 08:45Steffen80 schrieb:
The most expensive house on our street is currently being built (something like 4 to 5 million euros) entirely from: CONCRETE *tada*. With a thick phase-change insulation layer on top. Okay... probably about two-thirds of the surfaces are glass.I wonder if they are considering heating costs at that price? Probably not, since there is insulation on top as well.But it’s true, concrete is good for structural stability.
Ytong is concrete mixed with something aluminum-based to make the material foam, which improves its insulation properties. So, it is concrete with air pockets and lime added to the sand. Therefore, I live in a concrete house. Since there is no external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) applied, it actually breathes. It practically struggles to breathe. In summer, there are episodes of shortness of breath when you have to open the windows, otherwise it would collapse. K.
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Keishadow1 Mar 2019 10:15I don’t understand why so many people here are upset or don’t get the question. It’s quite simple...
A very straightforward question. Are the heating costs here twice as high as, for example, with the usual KfW55 building standard?
A very straightforward question. Are the heating costs here twice as high as, for example, with the usual KfW55 building standard?
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