The Impact of Changing Climatic Conditions on the Solutions Used in a Low-Energy Building—Case Study

The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of climate change on modern low-energy construction. The authors attempted to answer the question whether an existing single-family building that meets the current requirements for a low-energy facility can be called such in terms of ongoing long-term climate changes. Therefore, on the model of the building in question, the ESP-r program analyzed the impact of climate change on energy consumption for both heating and cooling purposes. The SSP2-4.5 scenario (RCP 4.5 according to the IPCC 5th Assessment Report) was adopted, generating future climate parameters for 2050 and 2080, using the HadCM3 model. In order to validate the model, the actual energy consumption values were compared with the values obtained from numerical modeling in the ESP-r program. The final task was to analyze the impact of ongoing climate changes on energy parameters and comfort of use of the facility. Based on the results obtained, the authors concluded that the effect of the changes that take place is the need to introduce an air conditioning system into it in the summer, because the currently existing solution, using a mechanical ventilation system to maintain thermal comfort, is unable to provide the required parameters in the rooms. We are dealing with the phenomenon of excessive temperature increase in the building in the summer. Therefore, the facility currently designed as a low-energy building will require the installation of additional installation systems in the coming years, primarily cooling rooms, which will involve increased energy consumption.