The impact of building orientation on residential heating and cooling

Abstract

Heating and cooling loads have been calculated for a prototype residential building at different orientations, using a development version of the building energy analysis computer program BLAST.** The study was carried out for 25 climates in the United States. It was found that in all climates, when the more extensively glazed exposure is oriented to south, total loads are significantly lower than those in the same building oriented east or west. North orientation also produces lower total loads than east or west orientations in the southern two-thirds of the U.S., and roughly equivalent loads in the northern third. Total loads are higher for north than south orientation except in extreme southern latitudes of the U. S. (those areas with dominant cooling loads). Variation of peak loads in response to orientation and sensitivity of results to (1) total window area and its distribution, (2) size of window overhangs, and (3) level of thermal mass are reported.

Mitigating High Energy Consumption for Residential Buildings in The Gambia.

“…According to Knowles, et al [16,17] the longer axis of the building should laid along east-west direction for minimum solar heat gain by the building envelope [18,19,20] Proper orientation of buildings to reduce the impact of unfavorable weather conditions like solar radiation, driving rain and thunderstorm. In the house, the rooms should be located in such a way that the ones frequently used should be elongated along the east-west dimensions to mitigate heat gain in summer and also making efficient use of sun.…”

Building orientation: an appraisal of environmental factors in the hot dry climate of Saudi Arabia

“…5 The space indoor temperature, and space cooling load, experience a gradual increase until the model is approximately 240" from true south. 6 The space indoor temperature and space cooling load experience a gradual decrease in space indoor temperature and cooling load to approximately 270" of true south. 7 The space indoor temperature and space cooling load experience a gradual increase to approximately 300" from true south.…”

A study on the characteristics of nighttime bedroom cooling load in tropics and subtropics

“…Therefore, the variation proÿles of cooling loads at nighttime may be di erent from those at daytime. Over the last 20 years, studies on the cooling load characteristics and energy use for air conditioning in di erent type of residential buildings in di erent parts of the world have been reported [1][2][3][4][5]. For residential buildings in subtropical Hong Kong, Bojic et al [6,7] found that providing thermal insulation to external walls of residential buildings in hot and humid climates would not lead to a signiÿcant cooling load reduction.…”