Towards optimal energy efficiency: analysing generalized and tailored retrofitting decisions

Towards optimal energy efficiency: analysing generalized and tailored retrofitting decisions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Case Report Towards optimal energy efficiency: analysing generalized and tailored retrofitting decisions Wilamy Castro, Joana Barrelas, Maria Paula Mendes, Christoph Reinhart, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6178132/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract A building’s energy performance, in terms of thermal comfort, energy demand, cost and CO 2 emissions, is considerably affected by its envelope. Enhancing energy efficiency through maintenance and retrofitting is essential to reduce consumption and emissions, thereby mitigating climate change. However, selecting the most cost-effective retrofitting solution remains challenging for decision-makers. Analysing real data across multiple scenarios provides valuable insights, supporting informed decision-making. This study discusses the impact of thermal retrofitting decisions on the energy efficiency of an existing single-family home, by analysing multiple scenarios concerning the implementation of measures on external walls, roof and windows. Both generalized and tailored approaches, particularly for external walls, are evaluated. Options include different insulation materials for the roof and façades - with the latter employing an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) - and various framing materials with double-glazing for window replacement. Various scenarios are discussed based on thermal simulations, implementation costs, and cost-benefit analysis. Additionally, multi-criteria (MCA) and sensitivity (SA) analyses are conducted to determine the optimal retrofitting solution. The most effective combined strategy applies ETICS with rock wool on the external walls, extruded polystyrene panels on the roof, and aluminium-framed windows with a thermal break, balancing energy efficiency, costs, durability, and sustainability. Although not part of the optimal solution, tailored retrofitting of façade F2 presents a viable alternative under cost constraints. Thermal retrofitting energy efficiency life-cycle-costs optimal retrofitting solution Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 29 Apr, 2025 Reviews received at journal 28 Apr, 2025 Reviews received at journal 28 Apr, 2025 Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Mar, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Mar, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Mar, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 18 Mar, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 18 Mar, 2025 First submitted to journal 07 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6178132","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Case Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":434120683,"identity":"0ae42bb6-569f-42f3-84da-0ddff85bd9ed","order_by":0,"name":"Wilamy Castro","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Brasília","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wilamy","middleName":"","lastName":"Castro","suffix":""},{"id":434120684,"identity":"c7d40060-3b3d-4775-9aa0-ba7392758458","order_by":1,"name":"Joana Barrelas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) - University of Lisbon","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Joana","middleName":"","lastName":"Barrelas","suffix":""},{"id":434120685,"identity":"0ef40c36-b1f7-4a89-bdaa-c4a8931fb8ab","order_by":2,"name":"Maria Paula Mendes","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"CERENA, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) - 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Enhancing energy efficiency through maintenance and retrofitting is essential to reduce consumption and emissions, thereby mitigating climate change. However, selecting the most cost-effective retrofitting solution remains challenging for decision-makers. Analysing real data across multiple scenarios provides valuable insights, supporting informed decision-making. This study discusses the impact of thermal retrofitting decisions on the energy efficiency of an existing single-family home, by analysing multiple scenarios concerning the implementation of measures on external walls, roof and windows. Both generalized and tailored approaches, particularly for external walls, are evaluated. Options include different insulation materials for the roof and fa\u0026ccedil;ades - with the latter employing an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) - and various framing materials with double-glazing for window replacement. Various scenarios are discussed based on thermal simulations, implementation costs, and cost-benefit analysis. Additionally, multi-criteria (MCA) and sensitivity (SA) analyses are conducted to determine the optimal retrofitting solution. The most effective combined strategy applies ETICS with rock wool on the external walls, extruded polystyrene panels on the roof, and aluminium-framed windows with a thermal break, balancing energy efficiency, costs, durability, and sustainability. Although not part of the optimal solution, tailored retrofitting of fa\u0026ccedil;ade F2 presents a viable alternative under cost constraints.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Towards optimal energy efficiency: analysing generalized and tailored retrofitting decisions","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-03-28 12:34:50","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6178132/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-04-29T17:50:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-04-28T19:08:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-04-28T13:12:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-04-16T07:20:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"63879890346708111360848321949416433054","date":"2025-04-14T12:11:17+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"327512006671886370571261519894069361096","date":"2025-04-05T10:58:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"328204336055256551960478526006848602588","date":"2025-03-31T11:34:23+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"279807392486119273784374915028023687196","date":"2025-03-26T06:53:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-03-19T22:10:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-03-18T07:34:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-03-18T07:30:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Applied Sciences","date":"2025-03-07T11:57:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-applied-sciences","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Applied Sciences](https://link.springer.com/journal/42452)","snPcode":"42452","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/42452/3","title":"Discover Applied Sciences","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"af237134-9f59-4604-a2bd-f2a68a1b3142","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 28th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-07-02T11:23:29+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-03-28 12:34:50","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6178132","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6178132","identity":"rs-6178132","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}