Residential Buildings In Hot Climates Research Articles

Optimizing Energy Efficiency in High-Rise Residential Buildings in Abu Dhabi’s Hot Climate: Exploring the Potential of Double Skin Façades

This study investigates energy efficiency in high-rise residential buildings in Abu Dhabi, where the increased use of glass building façades has led to increased air-conditioning costs due to heat gain. The research focuses on evaluating the type of glass and the appropriate cavity between glass façades to minimize energy consumption while incorporating sustainability and innovative design principles. To achieve these objectives, this study employs a Double Skin Façade (DSF), a high-performance façade that adapts to the external climate conditions to fulfill internal cooling load requirements and meet occupants’ needs. Data were collected through an online survey distributed among residents of a selected residential tower, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was utilized to analyze the gathered information. The selected case study was analyzed using Energy Plus simulation software using the existing data and available details. The analysis aimed to identify the optimal DSF design that significantly enhances energy efficiency. The findings of this study emphasize the substantial impact of the optimum DSF design on energy efficiency in high-rise residential buildings. Through modeling existing data and comparing them with new model results for each variable, this study demonstrates that a DSF with a 35 cm cavity, comprising a double-glazed single skin layer in the interior and a Low-E double-glazed single skin layer as an outer layer, can reduce overall air-conditioning energy consumption by over 25%. These outcomes provide valuable insights into implementing DSF as a solution to address the unique energy challenges presented by high-rise residential buildings in hot climates.

Evaluation of thermal and energy performance of cool envelopes on low-rise residential buildings in hot climates

Evaluation of thermal and energy performance of cool envelopes on low-rise residential buildings in hot climates

Reassessment of fenestration characteristics for residential buildings in hot climates: energy and economic analysis

Reassessment of fenestration characteristics for residential buildings in hot climates: energy and economic analysis

Building energy performance simulation: a case study of modelling an existing residential building in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, like many other developing countries, has had extensive experience with rapid urbanisation and infrastructure expansion, especially in the area of buildings. Buildings play an even bigger part, accounting for roughly 80% of total national electricity consumption. Forecasts indicate that domestic energy consumption will rise at a rate of 4 to 5% annually by2030, based on current local energy consumption patterns. A significant portion of this energy consumption growth results from the inefficient use of energy, and absence of coordinated enforcement and stakeholder engagement. This paper presents results of a study performed to propose potential energy-saving and CO₂ reduction techniques for residential buildings in hot climates, by critically examining an existing and recent building types. A model was designed using computer-based simulation software, DesignBuilder (DB), and the energy performance was then validated against the actual collected data. Building related parameters that make the construction systems behave differently in terms of energy efficiency were analysed. Additional simulations were run with the chosen building's shape, fabric, and user behaviour. Thermal insulation in the walls and roof can save about 45% in overall energy consumption, and when combined with other energy efficiency measures (EEMs), a substantial reduction of 67% can be achieved, according to the findings. In the residential sector, improvements in building energy efficiency were obtained from the perspectives of both technological capacity and initiative energy conservation consciousness.

A Study of Design Variables in Daylight and Energy Performance in Residential Buildings under Hot Climates

In Saudi Arabia, residential buildings are one of the major contributors to total energy consumption. Even though there are abundant natural resources, it is somewhat difficult to apply them to building designs, as design variables, due to slow progress and private issues in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the present study demonstrated the development of sustainable residential building design by examining the daylighting and energy performance with design variables. Focusing on the daylighting system, the design variables were chosen, including window-to-wall ratios (WWR), external shading devices, and types of glazing. The illuminance level by these design variables in a building was evaluated by using daylight metrics, such as spatial daylight autonomy and annual sunlight exposure. Moreover, the building energy consumption with these design variables was analyzed by using energy simulation. As a result, the daylighting was improved with the increase in WWRs and the tinted double glazing, while these design options can cause overheating in a residential building. Among types of glazing, the double pane windows with a low-E coating showed better energy performance. Based on the results, it is necessary to find the proper design variables that can balance the daylighting and energy performance in residential buildings in hot climates.

Model Simplification on Energy and Comfort Simulation Analysis for Residential Building Design in Hot and Arid Climate

Accurate building physics performance analysis requires time-consuming, detailed modeling, and calculation time requirement. This paper evaluates the impact of model simplifications on thermal and visual comfort as well as energy performance. In the framework of dynamic zonal thermal simulation, a case study of a residential building in hot climate is investigated. A detailed model is created and simplified through four scenarios, by incrementally reducing the number of thermal zones from modeling every space as a separate zone to modeling the building as a single zone. The differences of total energy and comfort performance in the detailed and simplified models are analyzed to evaluate the grade of the simplifications’ accuracy. The results indicate that all simplification scenarios present a marginal average deviation in total energy demand and thermal comfort by less than 20%. Combining rooms with similar thermal features into a zone presents the optimal scenario, while the worst scenario is the single-zone model. Results showed that thermal zone merging as a simulation simplification method has its limitations as well, whereas a too intensive simplification can lead to undesired error rates. The method is well applicable in further early-stage design and development tasks, specifically in large-scale projects.

Dynamic optimization of multi-retrofit building envelope for enhanced energy performance with a case study in hot Indian climate

When multiple thermal retrofits are to be installed in a building envelope for improving its energy performance, several questions arise such as “what should be the thickness of retrofits and where they should be placed within the wall/roof”, “which retrofit should be installed towards the exterior and which one should be installed towards the interior of the envelope”. Such judgements are made in contemporary studies by comparing limited predefined configurations where either the thickness or the location of retrofit assumes only a few discrete values within the envelope. The novel approach proposed in this study utilizes spatial discretization of structural layers in a composite envelope for two fold benefit. A new version of Genetic Algorithm (GA) is developed for this purpose by modifying its key operational stages. The GA is implemented in a practical scenario to optimally configure a multi-retrofit envelope (carrying phase change material and thermal insulator) of a common residential building in hot climate of India. Analysis of a single housing unit demonstrates that up to 33.5% of heat gain reduction and 9.2 kWh/day of electricity saving are achievable with improved envelope design.

Research and production of prototypes of lightweight concrete panel walls with a screen

Introduction. In industrial housing construction in a dry hot climate, the issues of protecting the premises from overheating have not yet been resolved. The purpose of this study is the theoretical and experimental substantiation of the method of calculating the construction of lightweight concrete panel exterior walls with a screen for large-panel residential buildings in hot climates, with improved performance and providing technical and economic efficiency. Materials and methods. Methods have been developed for ensuring the normative amplitude of temperature fluctuations of the inner surface in the wall due to the targeted formation of material properties and design measures, lightweight concrete wall panels with a screen and suggestions for their production technology have been developed, and recommendations have been made for their operation conditions. The methods of a rational constructive solution to the sun wall consisting of a sunscreen and a supporting structure separated by an air gap have been investigated. Results. It was supposed to carry out theoretical and experimental studies of the operational properties of lightweight concrete panels of external walls with a screen in laboratory and in-situ conditions. The work was performed in stages: At the first stage, the design and production technology of panels with a screen on prototype fragments under laboratory conditions was performed. For this, experimental fragments of 1 × 2 m panels will be made in the laboratory. The parameters of the air gap were determined from the condition of ensuring sufficient natural ventilation. At the second stage, a study was made of the rational structure of lightweight concrete for exterior walls in hot climates. To find the optimal structure of lightweight concrete from a thermal point of view, a 3-factor experiment was conducted. At the third stage, a theoretical study of the temperature regime of shielded and single-layer large-panel exterior walls was performed. At the fourth stage there was a generalization of the above studies, the manufacture and installation of experimental-industrial designs of panels with a screen in the amount of 10 pieces. At the Bukhara house-building combine. Conclusions. The described study by the method of experimental design and the experimental production of sample fragments confirmed the possibility of producing panels with a screen and an air gap in a single technological cycle. Analysis of the results of theoretical calculations shows that walls with vertical screens and a ventilated air gap are quite effective means of reducing the exposure of solar radiation to buildings and reducing the cost of cooling premises.

Energy saving potential for residential buildings in hot climates: The case of Oman

This paper examines the potential of energy saving in electrical consumption if the concept of energy-efficient house is implemented in Oman. Energy consumption in the residential sector in Oman was critically analysed and forecasted based on its growth rate and its historical consumption. Then, a base-case validated simulation model for a typical residential dwelling in different cities was generated using a dynamic building simulation software, covering a wide variation of climate conditions in Oman. A variety of modified design cases that met the minimum requirements for code compliance in residential buildings for four Gulf Cooperation Council countries were developed and subsequently simulated. Then, an economic analysis was performed. The results showed that due to the high annual growth rate of the residential sector (28.5%), a considerable amount of energy (13.2% in warm tropical climate to 48% in hot dry climate) could be saved if proper building codes are put in place. Thus, this paper calls for immediate action to start a large scale programme to promote and subsequently, to enforce the use of the principles of energy-efficient house in Oman.

Energy-Efficient Retrofitting Strategies for Residential Buildings in hot climate of Oman

The aim of this work is to investigate the potential of energy-efficient retrofitting strategies for residential buildings in Oman. An existing residential building located in hot climate with a built-up area of 212 m2 was selected. A building simulation model was created in DesignBuilder software. The model was then calibrated using actual electrical bills and measured weather data for year 2014. The calibrated model was subsequently used to evaluate different energy-efficient retrofitting strategies including the AC efficiencies, using insulations for both walls and roof, upgrading to LED lights, and improving the air tightness of the house. It was concluded that when combing the best strategy from each category, the annual energy consumption of the building can be reduced by as much as 42.5%. This significant reduction in energy consumption can help both the policy makers at governmental institutions and owners to move forward for large retrofitting campaigns to solve the current energy dilemma.

SPACE-PLANNING DECISIONS OF LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HOT CLIMATES

This article describes the characteristic climatic features of the hot climate. Considered space planning solutions for low-rise residential buildings for areas with hot humid and hot dry climates. Also described ways of dealing with a high temperature of internal air in premises and describes the various options for sun protection devices. Recommendations for improvement of the microclimate according to the area of construction. Reviewed software functional and aesthetic and sanitary-hygienic requirements for space-planning decisions of residential buildings in hot climates.

Impact of different thermal comfort models on zero energy residential buildings in hot climate

The selection of a thermal comfort model for establishing indoor optimal hygrothermal conditions during the hot period has a major impact on energy consumption of Net Zero Energy Buildings in hot climates. The objective of this paper is to compare the influence of using different thermal comfort models for zero energy buildings in hot climates. The paper compares the impact of applying Fanger's model, Givoni's model, the ASHRAE 55 adaptive comfort model and the EN 15251 adaptive comfort model on energy consumption and comfort performance. Using both the building performance simulation tools ZEBO and EnergyPlus for energy simulation, an existing prototype of a residential apartment module is used to evaluate energy performance and thermal comfort in two parametric series. The first one is the result of coupling natural ventilation and mechanical cooling and the second one is guided coupling natural ventilation, mechanical cooling and ceiling fans. This study shows that the percentage of energy consumption difference meeting the comfort criteria according to ISO 7730 in comparison to EN 15251, ASHRAE 55 or Givoni's model varied up to 16%, 21% and 24.7%, respectively for the presented case study. More energy savings can be expected for buildings in hot climates with greater cooling demands.

Natural-cooling techniques for residential buildings in hot climates

In most developing countries in the hot regions of the world during the last 50 years there have been many buildings constructed that are highly energy wasteful. The interiors of these buildings have to be mechanically air-conditioned in order to achieve thermal-comfort conditions. Consequently vast financial expenditures have and are being spent upon the installation and operation of the electricity-generating plants needed to supply the maximum power demand during summer. In many of these countries, air-conditioning accounts for more than 70% of the national electrical power consumption. However, less than a century ago, the inhabitants of these countries lived in buildings that incorporated only natural-cooling (i.e. far cheaper) techniques for achieving thermal comfort. In this paper, these tranditional beneficial techniques have been reviewed and the recent advances in both hybrid and active natural-cooling systems described.

Thermal and Other Performance Requirements for Residential Buildings in Hot Climates

Comfort requirements in summer in residential buildings are discussed together with the way they can be achieved in order to improve indoor thermal conditions by appropriate building design. The proper use of insulation on heat capacity properties and the use of light external colors are very important in order to eliminate or to min imize the use of air conditioning. The proper use of insulation properties can reduce very much the needs of heating in winter. Moisture problems are also discussed, with relation to problems of con densation and water penetration. Partial results of research in progress are presented.