Evaluation of Thermal Performance of Traditional Houses and Suggestions for Improvement: Case of Beypazarı Mehmet Üsdün House

Abstract

Traditional buildings should be studied to increase their thermal performance in order to preserve cultural heritage for future generations and ensure proper functionality. This study presents a model proposal for simulating the thermal performance of traditional houses using DesignBuilder software. The results of this evaluation will be used to create suggestions for improving historical buildings. It is possible to evaluate the thermal performance of traditional houses with current analysis software and make suggestions for improving their capacity through preservation activities. Firstly, data were collected, and standards and simulation tools related to thermal performance were examined. A traditional house was chosen as a case study for creating a proposal model and conducting thermal analysis. In the second step, the data processing stage was performed, and the house model was created in DesignBuilder. The collected data were entered into DesignBuilder and simulated. The simulation results were compared with the Turkish Standards (TS 825 - Thermal insulation requirements for buildings). Finally, suggestions were presented as proposals and solutions to improve the thermal performance of historical buildings based on the findings of this study. As a result of this study, it was found that implementing underfloor heating systems in Mehmet Üsdün House increased the thermal performance of the house by 30-35%. It can be concluded that the thermal performance of historical buildings can be effectively improved through the proper utilization of these buildings.