Effects Of Solar Radiation Research Articles

Exploring the impact of solar radiation on skin microbiome to develop improved photoprotection strategies.

The skin microbiome undergoes constant exposure to solar radiation (SR), with its effects on health well-documented. However, understanding SR's influence on host-associated skin commensals remains nascent. This review surveys existing knowledge on SR's impact on the skin microbiome and proposes innovative sun protection methods that safeguard both skin integrity and microbiome balance. A team of skin photodamage specialists conducted a comprehensive review of 122 articles sourced from PubMed and Research Gateway. Key terms included skin microbiome, photoprotection, photodamage, skin cancer, ultraviolet radiation, solar radiation, skin commensals, skin protection, and pre/probiotics. Experts offered insights into novel sun protection products designed not only to shield the skin but also to mitigate SR's effects on the skin microbiome. Existing literature on SR's influence on the skin microbiome is limited. SR exposure can alter microbiome composition, potentially leading to dysbiosis, compromised skin barrier function, and immune system activation. Current sun protection methods generally overlook microbiome considerations. Tailored sun protection products that prioritize both skin and microbiome health may offer enhanced defense against SR-induced skin conditions. By safeguarding both skin and microbiota, these specialized products could mitigate dysbiosis risks associated with SR exposure, bolstering skin defense mechanisms and reducing the likelihood of SR-mediated skin issues.

Offline Correction of CMIP6 HighResMIP Simulated Surface Solar Irradiance With 3D Sub‐Grid Terrain Radiative Effects

AbstractThe surface solar irradiance (SSI) is crucial for the land‐atmosphere processes and remarkably affected by the topography over the rugged areas. However, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) HighResMIP models adopting the parallel‐plane radiative scheme without considering the sub‐grid terrain solar radiative effects (3DSTSRE) overestimate the SSI in the rugged areas and the overestimation increases with the sub‐grid terrain complexity. To reduce the biases of the SSI simulations, this study offline corrects the SSI simulations of CMIP6 HighResMIP models by a 3DSTSRE scheme. Results show that the SSI biases produced by the HighResMIP models in the rugged regions can be significantly reduced by adopting the 3DSTSRE offline correction, and the improvements increase with the sub‐grid terrain complexity, indicating that considering the 3DSTSRE in the climate models to improve the SSI simulations over rugged areas is necessary.

A study on the impact of solar radiations and activation energy effects in existence of nanofluid over stretching solar sheets

In this paper, we study the effects of activation energy and solar radiation on expanding solar sheets, as well as non-Newtonian nanofluid dynamics, which are important in these applications and are driving efforts to find solutions to the world’s energy problems. We provide numerical solutions to physical flow problems by solving partial differential equations. We utilise the MATLAB-integrated bvp4c methodology after applying similarities to turn these PDEs model into ODEs. By investigating dimensionless momentum, concentration, and thermal profiles under different conditions, our research delves into the physical relevance of nanofluids. Important flow field components have also been numerically and tabulatively studied and displayed graphically. The rates at which heat is transferred is 29.06% and 37.99%, respectively. The rate of heat transport rose by 13.93% as a result. At greater values for the Maxwell fluid parameter, the velocity profiles improved while the temperature profiles decreased. This paper contributes significant new information to the ongoing discussion in this area, which is in line with earlier findings.

Tidal Composition Analysis of Global Sq Current System

AbstractIn this study, we examine the spatiotemporal variability of the global equivalent ionospheric current system estimated from geomagnetic Solar‐quiet (Sq) variations at 124 mid‐ to low‐latitude ground‐based magnetometer stations during 1–31 May 2020. In this period, geomagnetic activity was particularly low, that is, the hourly geomagnetic activity index Hp60 did not exceed 4o. The spherical harmonic analysis is performed on the Sq variations to estimate the equivalent current function at each universal time hour. Hourly maps of the global Sq current system are used to evaluate, for the first time, the tidal composition of mid‐latitude Sq currents and its temporal evolution. Although tides are known to be an important driver of Sq currents, the tidal composition analysis was difficult in previous studies that focused on Sq currents at particular longitude sectors. Our results show that the migrating tidal components (DW1, SW2, and TW3) are predominant in both hemispheres. This is as expected from the strong day‐night contrast in ionospheric conductivities. The day‐to‐day variations of the migrating tidal components are, however, not strongly correlated between the two hemispheres, suggesting that these variations arise not only from the global effect of solar radiation on ionospheric conductivities but also from the local effect of neutral winds. Variations associated with non‐migrating tides are also found. Especially, eastward‐propagating diurnal and semidiurnal tides with zonal wavenumber 1 (DE1 and SE1) are the largest non‐migrating components. Their production mechanisms remain to be understood.

On the mitigation of the overheating caused by floor heating systems exposed to long direct solar radiation and high occupation rates

This study investigates the effects of solar radiation and human metabolic heat due to occupation on the dynamic thermal response of glazed building's floor heating system (FHS), which may entail an indoor thermal discomfort. A full experiment was conducted on a real test cell to measure various parameters such as surface and floor-depth temperature, ambient and operative temperature, and relative humidity. The sun patch was experimentally simulated with a moving heating film placed on the surface of the radiant floor. The performance of the radiant floor was simulated using a TRNSYS® model in conjunction with SketchUp®. Once validated, the model was used to predict the test cell surface, ambient, and operative temperatures under four different scenarios related to the presence or absence of shading and/or occupant gains. Under the realistic climatic data of the city of Troyes (France), the results show that when the solar and occupants gains are considered on the heating slab, the indoor temperature reach the high value of 33.9 °C. A statistical approach based on Design of Experiments (DoE) method was used to perform sensitivity analysis and evaluate the effects of factors/design parameters such as heating pipe thickness, heating slab conductivity, specific heat capacity and density on surface and indoor air temperatures. Findings indicates that heating slab with 6 cm thickness, and with low conductivity and diffusivity leads to better FHS performances with no overheating/discomfort periods. The developed model could serve as a basis for any predictive adaptive control to mitigate the overheating problem.

Adopted Climatic Chamber Solar Simulator for Testing Solar Radiation Effects on Electricity Meters at NIS

Adopted Climatic Chamber Solar Simulator for Testing Solar Radiation Effects on Electricity Meters at NIS

Comparative analysis of thermal indices for modeling cold and heat stress in US dairy systems

Quantifying the impact of thermal stress on milk yields is essential to effectively manage present and future risks in dairy systems. Despite the existence of numerous heat indices designed to communicate stress thresholds, little information is available regarding the accuracy of different indices in estimating milk yield losses from both cold and heat stress at large spatio-temporal scales. To address this gap, we comparatively analyzed the performance of existing thermal indices in capturing US milk yield response to both cold and heat stress at the national scale. We selected four commonly used thermal indices: the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI), Black Globe Humidity Index (BGHI), Adjusted Temperature and Humidity Index (THIadj), and Comprehensive Climate Index (CCI). Using a statistical panel regression model with observational and reanalysis weather data from 1981-2020, we systematically compared the patterns of yield sensitivities and statistical performance of the four indices. We found that the US state-level milk yield variability was better explained by the THIadj and CCI, which combine the effects of temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. Our analysis also reveals a continuous and nonlinear responses of milk yields to a range of cold to heat stress across all four indices. This implies that solely relying on fixed thresholds of these indices to model milk yield changes may be insufficient to capture cumulative thermal stress. Cold extremes reduced milk yields comparably to those impacted by heat extremes on the national scale. Additionally, we found large spatial variability in milk yield sensitivities, implying further limitations to the use of fixed thresholds across locations. Moreover, we found decreased yield sensitivity to thermal stress in the most recent two decades, suggesting adaptive changes in management to reduce weather-related risks.

Comparative Analysis of Current-Voltage Characteristics of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems in Selected Climatic Regions in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of solar radiation’s intensity and ambient temperature on the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of monocrystalline and polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) systems in the generation of electricity in Calabar and Okuku, Cross River State, Nigeria. Appropriate measuring devices were employed to record daily readings of these parameters at the study locations, from July to August 2022. The data were collected and results graphically analyzed and calculated. The results indicate that current (Isc), voltage (Voc) as well as the maximum power (Pmax) of both module types increased positively with increase in solar radiation and ambient temperature. Results from collected and computed data also show average daily readings across the locations for solar radiation ranging between 271Wm-2 and 409Wm-2 and ambient temperature between 320C and 370C. The calculated Pmax ranges between 49W and 63W from the 130W solar modules used for the investigation. Another notable result is that the polycrystalline module exhibits higher Pmax than the monocrystalline module in both locations. In spite of the low solar radiation and ambient temperature obtained during this study period, which is considered the worst climatic period of the year (July and August), it is desirable and recommendable to employ solar modules as an alternative power generation in Calabar and Okuku, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Experimental method for estimating the effect of solar radiation on the inner surface heat flux of opaque building envelope elements

There still exists a considerable difference when comparing the real and the design energy consumption of buildings. The difference between the design and the real building envelope energy performance is one of its main reasons. The building envelope can be characterised through the individual characterisation of its different building envelope components such as opaque walls or windows. Therefore, the estimation of parameters such as their transmission heat transfer coefficient (UA) and their solar aperture (gA) is usually implemented. Although building components have been analysed over the years, the thermal characteristics of buildings have mainly been estimated through steady-state laboratory tests and simplified calculation/simulation procedures based on theoretical data. The use of inverse modelling based on registered dynamic data has also been used; however, unfortunately, the models used tend to significantly simplify or neglect the solar radiation effect on the inner surface heat flux of opaque building envelope elements. Therefore, this work presents an experimental, dynamic and inverse modelling method that accurately models non-linear phenomena through the use of a user-friendly simulation programme (LORD). The method is able to analyse in detail the effect of the solar radiation on the inner surface heat flux of opaque building envelope elements, without the necessity of knowing their constructive details or thermal properties. The experiment is performed in a fully monitored test box, where different models are tested with different opaque walls to find the best fit. Finally, the solar irradiance signal is removed from the best models so as to accurately quantify the weight of the solar radiation on the inner surface heat flux of each wall for two extreme periods, one for sunny summer days and other for cloudy winter days.

Hot Summers in Nordic Apartments: Exploring the Correlation between Outdoor Weather Conditions and Indoor Temperature

As the incidence of extended hot summers in the Nordic climate increases due to climate change, non-mechanically cooled apartments face high risks of overheating. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the temporal effects of heatwaves on indoor temperatures and examine the correlation between outdoor weather conditions and indoor temperature levels. A comprehensive field study was conducted across over 6000 apartments in the Helsinki region during the hot summer of 2021 and its heatwaves. Results indicated that nearly half of the apartments experienced indoor temperatures above 27 °C for over 7 consecutive days. It was found that an outdoor daily average temperature of 19 °C could cause indoor daily average temperatures higher than 27 °C. Further, the study revealed a strong correlation between indoor temperatures and outdoor 5-day moving average temperature, allowing occupants time to take preventative measures. Additionally, a linear relationship was found between the indoor average temperature, the outdoor 5-day moving average temperature, and the 7-day moving average solar radiation. The strength of the correlation and the magnitude of the effects of outdoor temperature and solar radiation varied depending on the duration of heatwaves. This highlights the importance of considering heatwaves in the design and renovation of residential buildings in the Nordic climate.

Measuring U.S. consumer sunscreen application at home and online: optimizing our methods to determine sunscreen application thickness for improved environmental emissions estimates

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are chemical ingredients used in sunscreen products to protect the skin from the harmful effects of solar radiation and have come under scrutiny due to concerns of potential aquatic impacts after direct release to the environment. UV filter emissions to the environment are directly influenced by the amount and frequency of sunscreen products applied by consumers. Previous research indicates that consumers have not applied adequate sunscreen thicknesses for several decades. Thus, comprehensive research is needed to investigate a more representative sunscreen application thickness to better estimate UV filter emissions from sunscreen products. A home use study and an online survey was conducted to better estimate sunscreen application thickness potentially exhibited by the general population both during daily skincare routine and when going to the beach. A secondary objective was to further improve the consumer survey method for estimating sunscreen application thickness. During their daily activities, the results of the home usage test suggest that people are applying 0.89 mg/cm2 to their face and 0.85 mg/cm2 to their body on average. Using an online survey to reach a larger sample of the population, the results were higher than the home use study with people applying on average 1.09 and 1.60 mg/cm2 to their face and body, respectively, as part of a regular skincare routine and on average 1.27 and 1.67 mg/cm2 to their face and body, respectively, when planning a day at the beach. The data generated from this study can be used in environmental emissions assessments of UV filters in sunscreen products to provide more realistic and representative estimates. In addition, the online survey instrument developed as part of this research can be used to further investigate sunscreen habits and practices that influence the amount and frequency of sunscreen used by people participating in recreational activities.

Investigation into potential TEC changes due to 9 seismic tremors of 2021–2022

This research document delves into the analysis of alterations in Total Electron Content (TEC) as identified through GPS observations leading up to nine earthquakes that transpired between the late months of 2021 and 2022. The comprehensive study investigates the TEC variations and provides a detailed examination of heat maps centred around the earthquake epicentres. These heat maps, characterized by diverse latitudes and longitudes, play a pivotal role in validating the precise locations of the earthquake epicentres. Notably, the examination of these maps unveils discernible GPS TEC variations several days before the occurrence of each earthquake. In addition to the TEC analysis, the research sheds light on the fluctuations in solar magnetic parameters. The study elucidates instances where TEC peaks surpassed normal values, particularly during periods characterized by minimal solar radiation effects. This correlation between solar magnetic parameters and TEC fluctuations adds a nuanced layer to the understanding of the complex interplay of factors leading to seismic events. The cumulative findings derived from the investigation point towards a compelling conclusion: GPS TEC observations and the analysis of heat maps serve as indispensable indicators for identifying precursory signs that precede an impending earthquake. This multidimensional approach enhances our comprehension of the temporal and spatial aspects of seismic activity and underscores the potential significance of solar magnetic parameters in influencing such geophysical events.

Effect of solar radiation and full spectrum artificial sun light drying on the drying characteristics, ultra-structural and textural properties of white radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Traditional sun drying has long been employed as a method for preserving radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) However, it suffers from various uncertainties, including weather-related factors such as rain and cloudy days, the pressing issue of climatic change can lead to an impact on the traditional drying process and texture of radish. In this research, the full spectrum artificial sunlight drying (FSASLD) has been implemented to simulate the traditional open sun drying of white radish slices which helps to prevent hygienic issues and unstable climatic conditions. Water activity (Aw) was measured and observed to decrease from 0.89 to 0.60 under both drying methods, indicating the removal of moisture from radish cells. Mathematical modelling and color kinetics models were studied with respect to drying time. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was employed to assess hardness, and results showed an increase in hardness following both SD (1018.24 g to 1327.67 g) and FSASLD (1018.24 g to 1731.04 g) salt treated radish slices. These findings suggest that FSASLD can serve as a viable alternative to the conventional drying method and contributes to agricultural innovation and the food industry, reducing drying time significantly from 270 min to 200 min and minimizing the impact of adverse weather conditions and interference from animals and microorganisms.

Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023

This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic materials, degradation of plastic debris, formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles and accompanying leaching of potential toxic compounds. Micro- and nanoplastics have been found in all ecosystems, the atmosphere, and in humans. While the potential biological risks are not yet well-established, the widespread and increasing occurrence of plastic pollution is reason for continuing research and monitoring. Plastic debris persists after its intended life in soils, water bodies and the atmosphere as well as in living organisms. To counteract accumulation of plastics in the environment, the lifetime of novel plastics or plastic alternatives should better match the functional life of products, with eventual breakdown releasing harmless substances to the environment.

Numerical Study of the Thermal Performance of the combined effect of solar energy and variable density around a Laminar Vertical jet

A computational analysis due to the thermal performance of combined effects of solar radiation and variable density around a laminar vertical jet is carried out. For this purpose, a mathematical model in terms of nonlinear coupled partial differential equations, keeping in view the coordinate system of the proposed problem, is established. Further, to get insight to the physical significance of the proposed problem, numerical data is obtained. For this purpose, the finite difference method is used to integrate the primitive form of the partial differential equations. The coefficient matrices of the unknown variables involved in the model are solved by using the Gaussian elimination technique with the help of Fortran-Laher 90. The obtained numerical results for different parameters involved in the flow model, that is density parameter m, Prandtl number Pr, radiation parameter Rd, and fluid's absorption parameter D, are highlighted graphically by using Techplot-360. The primary findings show that enhancing values of the density variation parameter m leads to an increase in the velocity profile and a decrease in the thermal profile. On the other hand, for increasing values of Rd, the boundary layer profiles decline. Also, the heat transfer rate prominently declines with the rise in numeric value of m, Rd, and D. The main novelty of the current work is to improve the thermal performance of natural convection heat transfer with the inclusion of solar energy and variable density.

Impacts of Compound Hot–Dry Events on Vegetation Productivity over Northern East Asia

Climate extremes, such as heatwaves and droughts, significantly impact terrestrial ecosystems. This study investigates the influence of compound hot–dry (CHD) events on vegetation productivity in northern East Asia. Four of the most widespread CHD events occurring during the summer from 2003 to 2019 were selected as the focus of this research. We first verified the performance of the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) in the region and then conducted factor-controlled experiments using CLM5 to assess the effects of different climate factors on gross primary productivity (GPP) changes during CHD events. Our results show that vegetation productivity exhibits greater sensitivity to CHD events within the transitional climatic zone (TCZ) than in other affected areas. In grassland areas within the TCZ, precipitation deficit is the primary factor leading to the decrease in GPP (explaining 56%–90% of GPP anomalies), while high temperatures serve as a secondary detrimental factor (explaining 13%–32% of GPP anomalies). In high-latitude forests outside the TCZ, high temperature has a more significant impact on suppressing GPP, while the decrease in soil moisture has a synchronously negligible impact on GPP. There are differences in the effects of high solar radiation on grasslands and woodlands during CHD events. It was observed that high radiation benefits trees by increasing the maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and maximum electron transport rate (Jmax), as well as enhancing photosynthesis, but has a negligible impact on grasses. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential for compound events to impact vegetation productivity more than expected from individual events due to confounding nonlinear effects between meteorological factors. More than 10% of the negative anomalies in GPP during two CHD events in 2017 and 2010 were attributed to these nonlinear effects. These research findings are significant for understanding ecosystem responses to climate extremes and their influence on carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. They can also contribute to more precisely evaluating and predicting carbon dynamics in these regions.

Effects of solar radiation and tree planting on photochemical reaction kinetics in urban street canyon

The investigation of the impact of tree planting on photochemical reaction kinetics and dispersion characteristics of reactive pollutants in street canyons under actual solar radiation remains a pertinent subject for research. The numerical models were employed and validated through wind-tunnel experiments to investigate the dynamic and thermodynamic effects of tree planting (LAD = 4.77) on turbulent flow, heat transfer, and NOx-O3 photochemical reaction in urban street canyons. The effects of solar radiation at three local solar times (LST0900, LST1200 and LST1500) and three background O3 concentrations (20 ppb, 100 ppb and 200 ppb) were considered. The ozone depletion rate (dO3) was defined to measure the photochemical reaction equilibrium. The results show that the presence of trees can offset the impact of varying LST solar radiation and promote greater stability in flow structures within street canyons. Specifically, a stable clockwise main vortex is observed in the upper part, while multiple smaller vortices form more regularly in the lower part. Compared with no trees, planting trees can effectively reduce the temperature by about 5 K in the lower part of street canyon through the shading and transpiration cooling effects. In conjunction with its dynamic effects, the tree planting can also effectively reduce the average concentration of pollutants before the reaction. It results in a predominant accumulation of NOx near the pollution source at the bottom center, thereby mitigating their detrimental impacts on both windward and leeward sides. Additionally, under the same background O3 concentration, tree planting can also influence the equilibrium process of photochemical reactions and enhance their reverse reaction leading to ozone depletion. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of tree greening on the local microclimate within urban street canyons.

Evaluation of the Effects of Window Films on the Indoor Environment and Air-Conditioning Electricity Consumption of Buildings

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of window films on indoor environmental conditions and electricity consumption of air conditioning. The research focused on the performance of different window films (HAG, RG), taking into account variations from different building orientations. The findings of this research indicated that building orientation could significantly influence the duration of direct sunlight entering the interior, with the areas closer to the glass being more susceptible to the effects of outdoor temperature and solar radiation. The clear glass with heat-absorbing film (HAG) and reflective film (RG) both reduced the indoor temperature and indoor illuminance while increasing indoor comfort. The RG could accumulate less heat on the glass surface compared with the HAG. The glass temperature of the RG will be lower than the HAG. The electricity-saving ratios of the HAG were 1.4%, 1.9%, 1.4%, and 1.2%, respectively, when facing the east, south, west, and northwest orientations compared with the clear glass (OG). The electricity-saving ratios of the RG were 3%, 4.2%, 4.2%, and 10.3%, respectively.

Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on the Growing Season of Vegetation Gross Primary Productivity in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Quantitatively determining the direct, indirect, and comprehensive effects of climatic factors on the growing season of the vegetation GPP (GPPGS) in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River at the regional and vegetation type scales can provide a scientific basis for the management and restoration of regional vegetation resources under the background of global climate change. Using MODIS GPP data, meteorological data, and vegetation type data, combined with Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall significance test, the spatiotemporal characteristics of the GPPGS in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were investigated at different temporal and spatial scales. Path analysis was used to further reveal the direct, indirect, and comprehensive effects of climate factors on GPPGS variation in different vegetation types. The results showed that:① from 2000 to 2021, the vegetation GPPGS in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River showed a fluctuating upward trend, with a rising rate (in terms of C, same below) of 2.70 g·(m2·a)-1 (P<0.01). The GPPGS of different vegetation types all showed a significant upward trend (P<0.01), with shrubs having the highest upward rate of 3.31 g·(m2·a)-1 and cultivated vegetation having the lowest upward rate of 2.54 g·(m2·a)-1. ② The proportion of the area with an upward trend in GPPGS in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was 88.11%. The proportion of the area with an upward trend in GPPGS was greater than 84% for all different vegetation types, with shrubs (49.76%) and cultivated vegetation (44.36%) having significantly higher proportions of the area with an upward trend than that in other vegetation types. ③ The path analysis results showed that precipitation and the maximum temperature had a significant positive direct effect on vegetation GPPGS (P<0.05), whereas solar radiation had a non-significant positive effect (P ≥ 0.05). The indirect effects of maximum temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation on vegetation GPPGS were all non-significantly negative (P ≥ 0.05). Under the combined effects of direct and indirect influences, precipitation and maximum temperature had a non-significant positive effect on vegetation GPPGS (P ≥ 0.05), whereas solar radiation had a non-significant negative effect on vegetation GPPGS (P ≥ 0.05). Among different vegetation types, precipitation was the main climate factor affecting the changes in GPPGS of cultivated vegetation, whereas the maximum temperature was the main climate factor affecting the changes in GPPGS of coniferous forests, broad-leaved forests, shrubs, and grasslands. ④ The changes in vegetation GPPGS in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were mainly influenced by the direct effects of maximum temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation, with the direct effect of precipitation dominating 56.72% of the changes in GPPGS. The research results can provide a reference for quantifying the carbon sequestration potential of vegetation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and formulating ecological restoration governance policies tailored to local conditions under the background of global climate change.

Shape optimization of the energy efficiency of building retrofitted facade

The current state of research indicates a necessity of further examination in both numerical and experimental studies related to optimizing shapes of building enclosures for the enhancement of their energy efficiency. The demand for research primarily arises due to the numerical complexities associated with optimizing shapes for this specific purpose. Consequently, the primary objective of this article is to address and bridge these gaps in the field. To achieve this, a two-dimensional steady-state heat diffusion model is assumed to represent the physical processes occurring within building facades of varying shapes. A third type boundary condition is applied to the exterior boundary, encompassing convective and incident short-wave solar radiation effects. The calculation of short-wave radiation accounts for factors such as sunlight exposure and shading, influenced by the surrounding urban environment. The internal boundary interfaces with the indoor ambient air, and thus, a Robin boundary condition is adopted. To tackle the computational demands while ensuring accuracy, the boundary element method (BEM) is employed by discretizing the domain boundary into discrete elements. Then, two heat transfer design objectives are define according to the period of investigations: ones related to enhancing heat transfer and ones focused on thermal insulation problem. Last, a real-world case study is conducted, considering a house wall under varying climate conditions throughout the year. Optimal shapes for the external wall boundary are determined with the constraint that the optimized facade utilizes the same amount of material as the reference flat one. The results demonstrate a substantial increase in energy efficiency compared to the reference flat wall case.