Thermal bridges as a problem toward energy efficiency and sustainable architecture, their inadequate application in the construction of individual residential buildings in the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

Nowadays we are confronted with high air pollution in many regions of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, especially during the winter season. A large percentage of air pollution is caused by the energy inefficiency of buildings and the heating needs to fulfill their function, with the emphasis on individual residential buildings. In this scientific paper we will study the problem of energy efficiency and architectural sustainability in individual residential buildings, treating thermal bridges and their inadequate realization as one of the main problems in construction towards energy efficiency and living comfort at the same time. The paper will show the details of thermal bridges, their inappropriate implementation during the construction of individual residential buildings and their impact on the building envelope, thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The study is based on important construction details such as foundations, terraces, balconies, flat and pitched roofs, which the author collected during a five-year work with design and supervision in the realization of individual residential buildings. Correcting the proper implementation details of thermal bridges allows to improve the energy efficiency of individual residential buildings in the Northern Republic of Macedonia and also to follow the objectives of the EU directives on energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]