Energy Upgrading of Basement Exterior Walls: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Most of today’s buildings will still be in use 2050 and upgrades should therefore contribute to reducing energy consumption carbon footprint. This paper addresses a challenge for upgrading basement exterior walls single-family dwellings, where ordinary retrofit insulation can lead the wall protruding from existing outer wall. For some, this an aesthetic barrier upgrade (an “ugly” solution). Superinsulation may solve without compromising performance. study analyses energy, cost footprint, identify under which conditions with vacuum panels (VIP) preferred solution. Three alternatives are analysed parametric model: XPS (the aesthetically “ugly”), VIP above ground below “good”), iii) no “bad”, as it does not consumption). Results show that using perform more pleasing solution than only XPS, but higher footprint costs. The least favourable option is install drainage system doing upgrade, have negative impact use, life cycle cost.