Ground heat loss in Australian houses can contribute up to 49% of energy demand.
Ground heat loss from concrete slab floors in Australian houses was studied. A new method was developed to calculate this heat loss, which was validated through simulations. The study found that in colder cities like Melbourne, Canberra, and Hobart, ground heat loss can make up almost half of a house's heating and cooling energy demand. Insulating the edges of the floors can reduce this heat loss by 15% to 25%.