The role of double-skin facade configurations in optimizing building energy performance in Erbil city

Abstract

Carefully designing a building facade is the most crucial way to save energy, and a double-skin facade is an effective strategy for achieving energy efficiency. The improvement that can be made depends on how the double-skin facade is set up and what the weather conditions are like. This study was designed to investigate the best-case scenario with an appropriate double-skin facade configuration for optimizing building energy performance. A methodology for optimizing the building's initial condition was introduced using EnergyPlus and ClimateStudio according to a 1-year period of the city of Erbil. Analysis of double-skin parameters was performed by utilizing a multi-objective analysis approach. Four naturally ventilated geometric configurations were assessed: building-height, storey-height, shaft-box, and box-window. The results provide annual and seasonal consumption curves for each orientation. The massive airflow between adjacent thermal zones of a shaft-box facade significantly reduces the amount of cooling energy needed. Hence, due to the intricate internal partitioning that allows for airflow within the cavity and shaft, this design indicates multiple advantages over others. The annual cooling demand drops significantly, by 9% to 14%. Energy savings of up to 116,574 kWh per year are possible when using a double-skin facade compared to the building’s initial condition, which is a great asset in the temperate environment of Erbil.

Review of Façade Photovoltaic Solutions for Less Energy-Hungry Buildings

“…An efficient way to protect indoor environments can be achieved using double-skin façades. As reported by Naddaf and Baper [144], an annual cooling demand reduction between 9 and 14% was observed when DSF was used.…”

Using IoT in Double Skin Facades toward Thermal Comfort: A Review

“…The incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into Double Skin Facades (DSFs) exerts a substantial influence on both thermal comfort and energy efficiency, offering a more nuanced comprehension of this subject [2] . IoT facilitates real-time monitoring and adaptive control of environmental parameters within building enclosures, allowing for dynamic adjustments based on prevailing conditions [22] . Specifically, within the context of DSFs, IoT technology enables the implementation of adaptive responses to external factors such as outdoor temperature, solar irradiation, and occupant behavior, ultimately optimizing thermal comfort [23] .…”

“…IoT systems leveraging real-time data on temperature differentials, occupancy patterns, and external weather conditions optimize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in DSFs, ensuring thermal comfort and minimal energy wastage [23] . The remote monitoring and management enabled by IoT further empower building operators to promptly identify and rectify inefficiencies, contributing to the sustained, long-term performance of DSFs [22] .…”

The Influence of Confined Space Size on the Temperature Distribution Characteristics of Internal Window Plume from Well-Ventilated Compartment Fires

“…The fire can spread vertically through the inner vertical shaft, atrium, or through the external windows and openings on the building's exterior facade [5,6]. In modern high-rise buildings, with more traditional concrete exterior walls being replaced by glass curtain walls, the gaps between glass curtain walls and floor slabs or the channels of double-shin facades have added new ways for the vertical spread of fire [7][8][9]. Currently, almost every city has a large number of commercial streets, which, due to the narrow width of the streets, can form street valleys.…”