Indoor thermal environment and heating energy saving analysis of residential buildings in Northern small towns of China

In order to assess the indoor thermal environment and building energy consumption in small towns of China, the thermal environment parameters, heating coal consumption and thermal performance of building envelop were measured and questionnaires about subjective thermal feeling were made in some typical residential buildings in northern small towns of China. Results show that the residences in small towns consume more energy but obtain a bad thermal environment. Only 16% of the residences conform to the "Indoor air quality standard". The average energy consumption in Beijing and Shanxi is 3.9 and 2.1 times more than standard respectively. New thermal environment evaluation standard suitable for residential buildings in northern small towns based on dynamic thermal environment is advocated. Choosing heat source and system reasonably, improving the insulation performance of building envelope and enhancing the energy saving awareness of heat consumer are effective measures for heating energy efficiency in small towns.