Using smart glazing for reducing energy consumption on existing office building in hot dry climate

Abstract

Office buildings in Upper Egypt suffer from high temperature in summer due to solar radiation of this extreme hot arid climatic region. The effect of smart glass on reducing energy consumption in office buildings is well studied in temperature climates but rarely addressed for this Region. This paper aims to compare different types of glazing to define which achieves a better balance between reducing cooling energy consumption and daylight saving. Six types of glazing were simulated on the main office building of Sohag governorate-Egypt. The simulation was carried out for all orientations. Energy Plus-Design Builder simulation tool has been used to study the effect of smart glass on increasing energy efficiency. The window area-to-floor ratio was 8%, 16%, 24% and 32%. Simulation results show that smart glazing is more effective than traditional windows. Electro-chromic glass achieved the best results in reducing cooling energy consumption for window area of 32%. Also, achieving a significant reduction in cooling loads up to 43% in East orientation, 46% in South orientation and 45% in West orientation. On the other hand, it reduced glare in the East and West orientation by 64%. And, it reduced consumption of lighting energy by 60%, 61% and 57% in East, South and West, respectively. The effect of Gasochromic was increased when the window area ratio increased to 32%. For window area 32%, Gaso-chromic achieved the results of light energy similar to Electro-chromic.

Design of Integrated Electrochromic-Photovoltaic Technology for Smart Windows to Improve Building Performance and Energy Efficiency: A Material Approach

“…The study reported the efficiency of TFSC photovoltaic technology of about 7.8% for 6 µm nanocrystalline films and 8.4% for 12 µm thick nanocrystalline films, with an average transmission range of 20-23% at 400-700 nm wavelengths (Husain et al, 2018). How much of the energy saving potential of buildings with electrochromic windows and the potential for energy production by photovoltaic layers is highly dependent on various environmental and building conditions (Nageib et al, 2020).…”

Study of Electrochromic (EC) and Gasochromic (GC) Glazing for Buildings in Aspect of Energy Efficiency

“…In the simulation study [24], EC and GC windows together with termochromic (TR) and static tinted type of glazing have been compared in order to define which of the above offers a better balance between reducing energy consumption on cooling and saving daylight. The simulation was conducted for an office building in southern Egypt for all orientations and various window area-to-floor ratios (WFR): 8%, 16%, 24% and 32%.…”

Highly stable electrochromic cells based on amorphous tungsten oxides prepared using a solution‐annealing process

“…Therefore, research for practical and commercial electrochromic windows is urgently necessary to enhance the lifetime and efficiency. 4,5 Numerous materials and methods have been explored to determine the optimal approach for realizing smart electrochromic windows, and it was found that each approach has both advantages and drawbacks. Compared to organic electrochromic materials, metal oxide electrochromic materials are advantageous due to properties such as low material cost, simple processing, and durability, which is the most important property for electrochromic devices.…”

“…For these windows, the application of a low potential to change the color of the window can easily lead to blocking or reflection of sunlight which is the main cause of room heating. Therefore, research for practical and commercial electrochromic windows is urgently necessary to enhance the lifetime and efficiency 4,5 …”