Investigation of Thermal Mass Properties of Historic Buildings for Energy Efficiency

The significant increase in energy consumption and the deepening of environmental problems associated with climate change have made energy-efficient design approaches in construction sector inevitable. Furthermore, global goals aimed at reducing carbon emissions and addressing the depletion of energy resources necessitate a reassessment of the energy performance of building materials. In this context, the thermal mass properties of natural and local materials used in vernacular buildings are great importance in terms of re-evaluating passive climate control strategies under current conditions. Thermal mass is a physical property that refers to a material’s capacity to absorb, store and release heat with a delay. Walls and floors with high thermal mass reduce indoor temperature fluctuations, thereby increasing thermal comfort. This contributes to energy efficiency by reducing heating and cooling requirements in buildings. With this characteristic, thermal mass has the potential to balance the energy load in buildings during times of high energy demand. This study aims to examine the thermal mass properties of building elements made from vernacular building materials such as wood, stone, adobe and brick, and the effects of these properties on energy efficiency, using a literature-based analysis method. The study comparatively analysed the thermophysical behaviour of traditional building elements used in different climate zones through tables. The findings reveal that building elements with high thermal mass reduce energy consumption by balancing indoor temperature fluctuations and enhance passive climate control performance. Consequently, traditional building materials, thanks to their thermal mass properties, provide a strong design data source for architectural applications in terms of energy-efficient and sustainable building design. Highlighting these properties is important not only for the preservation of building elements related to local architectural heritage but also for contributing to the construction of sustainable, energy- efficient buildings using local materials in the modern era.