The influence of envelope characteristics to the energy behaviour of high-rise residential buildings

Publisher Summary This chapter presents several investigations performed on the thermal performance of the envelope design of high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong when the building envelope was incorporated with different characteristics. These investigations were based on the yearly cooling load predicted using the detailed building heat transfer simulation program HTB2. The results showed the effects of several conventional treatments at the facade for improving the energy performance of the envelope of a residential building, including increasing the wall thickness, reducing the window-to-wall area ratio, reducing the shading coefficient of the window glass, and inclusion of overhangs, and sidefins at windows. Simulation predictions showed that the use of a glazing type of better thermal performance would be effective in reducing the yearly cooling load in the airconditioned spaces. Other treatments at the facade could each yield a reduction in the yearly cooling load by several percent. The simulation studies on the effects of applying thermal insulation to the building fabric elements showed that the insulation layer to be applied would lead to a significant effect up to thickness of 50mm, but further increasing its thickness would lead to incremental benefit.