Using STIM in Concrete to Evaluate the Varying Thermal Insulation Efficiency of Roof Materials Caused by Climatic Factors in Taiwan

The adoption of thermal insulation materials on roofs reduces the air-conditioning energy consumption of a building. However, an appropriate energy-saving envelope method must be adopted to achieve optimal hot climate control. The development of this method depends on the climate of the building’s location, and cannot be based on the envelope method used by other climate regions for hot climate control. In this study, research was conducted in Taiwan, a subtropical region. The smart temperature information material (STIM) developed by the researchers of this study was adopted and embedded in 5 reinforced concrete roof slab models (one control group and four experimental groups). The changes in temperature were monitored for 1 year. Subsequently, this study analyzed the effects that climatic factors (e.g., weather, seasons, and day/night) have on the efficiency of various thermal insulation materials used in Taiwan (i.e., sod roofs, Polystyrene(PS) insulating brick, painted corrugated sheets, and heat insulation paint)