AbstractAbout AuthorsReferences
The paper addresses the energy performance of buildings in the hot, sharply continental climate of Uzbekistan, where a major share of energy consumption is driven by air-conditioning systems. Based on a review of facade insulation solutions commonly used in CIS countries, the study highlights the dominance of composite rendering facade systems (ETICS) and discusses the limitations of current Russian design codes, which are primarily focused on heat loss during cold periods. To quantify the impact of thermal insulation type on actual energy use, a full-scale experiment was carried out with three ETICS variants: extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), mineral wool and a reference wall without insulation. The facades were designed to provide comparable calculated thermal resistance in accordance with SP 50.13330.2024 and local climate data. A methodology is proposed for comparing design-based and measured energy performance over long-term monitoring, and several hypotheses are formulated regarding the role of previously unaccounted facade parameters such as moisture dynamics, thermal inertia and solar radiation in hot climates.
Ya.E. BEGICH1, Research Engineer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),
A.I. ENIKEEV1, Research Engineer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),
O.N. STOLYAROV1, Doctor of Sciences (Engineering) (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.);
S.V. KUSHNIR2, Head of the Cladding Products and Materials Sector (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),
E.A. PAVLOVA2, Engineer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
A.I. ENIKEEV1, Research Engineer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),
O.N. STOLYAROV1, Doctor of Sciences (Engineering) (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.);
S.V. KUSHNIR2, Head of the Cladding Products and Materials Sector (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),
E.A. PAVLOVA2, Engineer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
1 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) (29, Politekhnicheskaya Street, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russian Federation)
2 Central Research Institute of Building Structures named after V.A. Kucherenko JSC “Research Center “Construction”, Laboratory of Reliability of Facades and Thermal Insulation Facade Systems (6, 2nd Institutskaya Street Moscow,109428, Russian Federation)
1. Fereidani N.A., Rodrigues E., Gaspar A.R. A review of the energy implications of passive building design and active measures under climate change in the Middle East. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021. Vol. 305. 127152. EDN: KKUVCV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127152
2. Davraz M., Akdağ A.E., Koru M. Comparison of the thermal performance and unit costs of a thermal insulation plaster developed for building applications with alternative insulation materials. Construction and Building Materials. 2026. Vol. 511. 145310. EDN: KPHJMU. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145310
3. Merc K.E., Ekici B. High-performance envelopes in the Mediterranean: Energy and comfort effects of BIPVs, shading devices, and green walls. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 358. 117222. EDN: WGDHJN. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117222
4. Mohammed Arandah W.M., Samir Hassan M., Mosleh Saleh N., Abdel-Hamid M. Optimizing energy and carbon emissions in Egyptian residential buildings using simulation-based EDGE standards. HBRC Journal. 2025. Vol. 21. No. 1, pp. 265–283. EDN: RARDKE. https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2025.2479990
5. Huo H., Deng X., Wei Y., Liu Z., Liu M., Tang L. Optimization of energy-saving renovation technology for existing buildings in a hot summer and cold winter area. Journal of Building Engineering. 2024. Vol. 86. 108597. EDN: AUURAK. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108597
6. Manos G.C., Melidis L., Katakalos K. Out-of-plane flexure of external Thermal-insulation attached to Non-load-bearing masonry walls. Structures. 2023. Vol. 53, pp. 779-796. EDN: CDDOYY.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.04.098
7. O’Flaherty F., Alam M. Thermal and sound insulation performance assessment of vacuum insulated composite insulation panels for building facades. Advances in Building Energy Research. 2021. Vol. 15. No. 3, pp. 270–290.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17512549.2018.1520645
8. Zhao J., Xu Y., Kou Z., Guo J., Grunewald J. Hygrothermal performance of the building envelope insulated by the silica aerogel composites in different climates. Energy and Buildings. 2025. Vol. 344. 116009. EDN: QAXGFH.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116009
9. Gabriel E., Fernandes de Sousa Lima S., Bonadiman Buligon L., Portolan dos Santos Í. Optimization of building envelopes for zero-energy social housing in southern brazilian bioclimatic zones using multi-criteria decision analysis. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 357. 117119. EDN: BWVGLT. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117119
10. Villano F., Ascione F., Cholewa T., De Masi R.F., Mauro G.M., Ruggiero S. Climate change impact on envelope retrofit effectiveness: energy and carbon performance of Italian residential and office buildings today vs. 2050. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 357. 117145. EDN: BCCGWJ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117145
11. Cusenza M.A., Guarino F., Longo S., Cellura M. An integrated energy simulation and life cycle assessment to measure the operational and embodied energy of a Mediterranean net zero energy building. Energy and Buildings. 2022. Vol. 254. 111558. EDN: GXPGXG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111558
12. Awad H., Secchi L., Gül M., Ge H., Knudson R., Al-Hussein M. Thermal resistance of multi-functional panels in cold-climate regions. Journal of Building Engineering. 2021. Vol. 33. 101838. EDN: PGJGUZ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101838
13. Belous A.N., Overchenko M.V., Begich Ya.E., Be-lous O.E., Enikeev A.I. Thermal characteristics of thermal insulation materials under quasi-stationary thermal conditions. Vestnik of Tomsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 2025. Vol. 27. No. 5, pp. 185–199. (In Russian). EDN: QVBCGZ. https://doi.org/10.31675/1607-1859-2025-27-5-185-199
14. Xu F., Wang H., Tian D., Gao Z., Zhang J. Factors affecting the daytime cooling effect of cool materials: A case study combining experiment and simulation. Building and Environment. 2024. Vol. 250. 111213. EDN: YJWJKC.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111213
15. He Y., Duan Z., Song M., Dai M., Zhang X., Chen Y., Li C., Xu L., Lu Y., Tan C.L., Liu J. Thermal and energy saving performance of photovoltaic-green roof: An experimental and modeling study in hot summer and cold winter area. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 359. 117307. EDN: TBKOZO. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117307
16. Haidar G., Kravchenko I., Ferrantelli A. Optimizing the thermal performance of double skin Facades in a cold climate with phase change materials and cavity ventilation. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 358.117248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117248
17. Kang Y., Kim S. Sustainable Retrofit of a Historic Building Using Wall Insulation: Balancing Heritage Preservation and Energy Performance. International Journal of Thermophysics. 2025. Vol. 46. No. 9. 123. EDN: OEZFHO.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-025-03602-9
18. Ragab A.H.S., Attiah E.M.E., Shebl M.A., Nasser A.A.H. Comparative analysis of thermal performance for precast panel systems with conventional and innovative insulation materials. HBRC Journal. 2023. Vol. 19. No. 1, pp. 427–-452. EDN: IIWIZM. https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2023.2283294
19. Aslani A., Hachem-Vermette C. Energy and environmental assessment of high-performance building envelope in cold climate. Energy and Buildings. 2022. Vol. 260. 111924. EDN: DUSDYU. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.111924
20. Begich Ya.E., Pavlenko N.V. Naberezhny A.D., Turantaev E.E., Kushnir S.V. Investigation of energy efficiency of facade thermal insulation composite systems with different thermal insulation types in a sharply continental climate. Zhilishchnoe Stroitel’stvo [Housing Construction]. 2025. No. 5, pp. 58–65. (In Russian). EDN: VQBWBY. https://doi.org/10.31659/0044-4472-2025-5-58-65
2. Davraz M., Akdağ A.E., Koru M. Comparison of the thermal performance and unit costs of a thermal insulation plaster developed for building applications with alternative insulation materials. Construction and Building Materials. 2026. Vol. 511. 145310. EDN: KPHJMU. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145310
3. Merc K.E., Ekici B. High-performance envelopes in the Mediterranean: Energy and comfort effects of BIPVs, shading devices, and green walls. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 358. 117222. EDN: WGDHJN. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117222
4. Mohammed Arandah W.M., Samir Hassan M., Mosleh Saleh N., Abdel-Hamid M. Optimizing energy and carbon emissions in Egyptian residential buildings using simulation-based EDGE standards. HBRC Journal. 2025. Vol. 21. No. 1, pp. 265–283. EDN: RARDKE. https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2025.2479990
5. Huo H., Deng X., Wei Y., Liu Z., Liu M., Tang L. Optimization of energy-saving renovation technology for existing buildings in a hot summer and cold winter area. Journal of Building Engineering. 2024. Vol. 86. 108597. EDN: AUURAK. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108597
6. Manos G.C., Melidis L., Katakalos K. Out-of-plane flexure of external Thermal-insulation attached to Non-load-bearing masonry walls. Structures. 2023. Vol. 53, pp. 779-796. EDN: CDDOYY.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.04.098
7. O’Flaherty F., Alam M. Thermal and sound insulation performance assessment of vacuum insulated composite insulation panels for building facades. Advances in Building Energy Research. 2021. Vol. 15. No. 3, pp. 270–290.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17512549.2018.1520645
8. Zhao J., Xu Y., Kou Z., Guo J., Grunewald J. Hygrothermal performance of the building envelope insulated by the silica aerogel composites in different climates. Energy and Buildings. 2025. Vol. 344. 116009. EDN: QAXGFH.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116009
9. Gabriel E., Fernandes de Sousa Lima S., Bonadiman Buligon L., Portolan dos Santos Í. Optimization of building envelopes for zero-energy social housing in southern brazilian bioclimatic zones using multi-criteria decision analysis. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 357. 117119. EDN: BWVGLT. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117119
10. Villano F., Ascione F., Cholewa T., De Masi R.F., Mauro G.M., Ruggiero S. Climate change impact on envelope retrofit effectiveness: energy and carbon performance of Italian residential and office buildings today vs. 2050. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 357. 117145. EDN: BCCGWJ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117145
11. Cusenza M.A., Guarino F., Longo S., Cellura M. An integrated energy simulation and life cycle assessment to measure the operational and embodied energy of a Mediterranean net zero energy building. Energy and Buildings. 2022. Vol. 254. 111558. EDN: GXPGXG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111558
12. Awad H., Secchi L., Gül M., Ge H., Knudson R., Al-Hussein M. Thermal resistance of multi-functional panels in cold-climate regions. Journal of Building Engineering. 2021. Vol. 33. 101838. EDN: PGJGUZ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101838
13. Belous A.N., Overchenko M.V., Begich Ya.E., Be-lous O.E., Enikeev A.I. Thermal characteristics of thermal insulation materials under quasi-stationary thermal conditions. Vestnik of Tomsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 2025. Vol. 27. No. 5, pp. 185–199. (In Russian). EDN: QVBCGZ. https://doi.org/10.31675/1607-1859-2025-27-5-185-199
14. Xu F., Wang H., Tian D., Gao Z., Zhang J. Factors affecting the daytime cooling effect of cool materials: A case study combining experiment and simulation. Building and Environment. 2024. Vol. 250. 111213. EDN: YJWJKC.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111213
15. He Y., Duan Z., Song M., Dai M., Zhang X., Chen Y., Li C., Xu L., Lu Y., Tan C.L., Liu J. Thermal and energy saving performance of photovoltaic-green roof: An experimental and modeling study in hot summer and cold winter area. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 359. 117307. EDN: TBKOZO. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117307
16. Haidar G., Kravchenko I., Ferrantelli A. Optimizing the thermal performance of double skin Facades in a cold climate with phase change materials and cavity ventilation. Energy and Buildings. 2026. Vol. 358.117248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117248
17. Kang Y., Kim S. Sustainable Retrofit of a Historic Building Using Wall Insulation: Balancing Heritage Preservation and Energy Performance. International Journal of Thermophysics. 2025. Vol. 46. No. 9. 123. EDN: OEZFHO.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-025-03602-9
18. Ragab A.H.S., Attiah E.M.E., Shebl M.A., Nasser A.A.H. Comparative analysis of thermal performance for precast panel systems with conventional and innovative insulation materials. HBRC Journal. 2023. Vol. 19. No. 1, pp. 427–-452. EDN: IIWIZM. https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2023.2283294
19. Aslani A., Hachem-Vermette C. Energy and environmental assessment of high-performance building envelope in cold climate. Energy and Buildings. 2022. Vol. 260. 111924. EDN: DUSDYU. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.111924
20. Begich Ya.E., Pavlenko N.V. Naberezhny A.D., Turantaev E.E., Kushnir S.V. Investigation of energy efficiency of facade thermal insulation composite systems with different thermal insulation types in a sharply continental climate. Zhilishchnoe Stroitel’stvo [Housing Construction]. 2025. No. 5, pp. 58–65. (In Russian). EDN: VQBWBY. https://doi.org/10.31659/0044-4472-2025-5-58-65
For citation: Begich Ya.E., Enikeev A.I., Stolyarov O.N., Kushnir S.V., Pavlova E.A. Analyzing the influence of unaccounted-for structural parameters on the energy efficiency of buildings and structures: a case study of facade systems (fts) with different thermal insulation types in a hot climate characterized by increased solar activity. Zhilishchnoe Stroitel'stvo [Housing Construction]. 2026. No. 7, pp. 17–26. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.31659/0044-4472-2026-7-17-26