Insulation may not always save energy or improve comfort in some buildings
Insulating buildings can help save energy and keep them comfortable, right? Well, not always! A study looked into how building insulation affects energy use and comfort in an air-conditioned office in Australia. They used computer simulations and found that adding more insulation doesn't always lead to energy savings or better comfort, especially in warm climates with buildings that have a lot of internal heat sources like office equipment. This means increasing insulation may not be as helpful in certain buildings and locations, particularly with the changing climate. Interestingly, while insulation does impact how warm or cool a building stays, its effect on energy use isn't as significant as you might think.