Aesthetic and Thermal Suitability of Highly Glazed Spaces with Interior Roller Blinds in Najran University Buildings, Saudi Arabia

Abdultawab M. Qahtan ()
Additional contact information
Abdultawab M. Qahtan: Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, Najran 66246, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Highly glazed spaces are visually appealing and trendy, but effectively managing their temperature in hot arid climates remains a significant challenge. This study evaluates the effectiveness of dark-tinted double low-E glass with internal roller blinds in reducing heat gain in glazed spaces in hot arid climates and investigates architects’ perspectives on these facades. It combines field measurements and a survey to assess the balance between thermal control and aesthetics in such environments. This study reveals that the current glazing significantly attenuates solar radiation ingress, evidenced by a marked indoor-–outdoor temperature differential (ΔT) of approximately 9.2 °C. The mean radiant temperature registers at 1.5 °C above the indoor air temperature, which can be attributed to the glazing’s propensity to absorb and retain solar heat, resulting in an inner glass surface temperature of 43 °C. The implementation of adjustable blinds has a dynamic influence on the heat transfer coefficient (HTC), effectively modulating the temperature by impeding natural convection currents. With the blinds retracted, the HTC stands at an average of 7.1 W/m 2 K, which diminishes to 5 W/m 2 K when the blinds are 50% closed and further reduces to 4.2 W/m 2 K when the blinds are fully closed (100%). Survey results suggest that architects prioritise glazed facades for aesthetics (52%) while facing challenges in thermal and energy efficiency (44%). Future studies should concentrate on developing novel glazing systems that integrate solutions for visual appeal, lighting and thermal efficiency in glazed facades, particularly in hot arid climates.

Keywords: tinted glazing double low-E; interior blinds; thermal profile; hot arid climate; aesthetic appeal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/2030/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/2030/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:2030-:d:1348995

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().