An evaluation of the glazing type impact on building energy performance through a building simulation

Abstract

Buildings are responsible for most of the energy consumption in countries, thence energy saving in buildings is a high priority issue. Windows and glazing types are one of the factors that greatly affect the performance of buildings, both in terms of thermal comfort and energy consumption for heating or cooling. The proper selection of window glazing is one of the effective strategies to minimize energy consumption. In this study, an office building was designed to determine the most suitable glazing type for office buildings, which is the main purpose, and the energy efficiency of the building was examined with Openstudio and Energyplus software. Energy modeling of the office building was conducted for four different types of glazing by using VRF systems for air-conditioning and a dedicated outdoor air system for ventilation. The effect of different windows glazing system properties on the energy performance and total energy need was calculated by considering the fixed indoor thermal and visual comfort conditions were evaluated. The study results indicated that energy consumption can reduce about 24.88 kBtu/ft2 (25%) using suitable glazing material.