Effect of Orientation on Indoor Thermal Neutrality in Winter Season in Hot Arid Climates Case Study: Residential Building in Greater Cairo

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effect of prototypical apartments' orientation on indoor thermal comfort as a case study. The appartments are in a residential building block in October 6 th city in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Field measurements of indoor air temperature (T a,in ) and relative humidity (RH in ) were monitored in three hour intervals in the winter season of 2013 during one week in January. Outdoor measurements for the ambient temperature and relative humidity were obtained from the Meteorological Authority in the same period. The indoor measured data of air temperature and relative humidity were used to specify the comfort zone of each apartment in different orientations in the reference case by using ASHRAE psychrometric chart. This is considered the first part of the study and the second part will be conducted in the summer season to discuss the indoor thermal comfort for the reference case. a visual survey was conducted in order to analyze the construction materials and facade features of the buildings. Personal observations, field measurements and ASHRAE psycrometric chart analyses show that there is significant thermal discomfort inside the apartments, while changing the orientation had an insignificant effect on improving thermal conditions during the survey period