Assessment of Different Envelope Configurations via Optimization Analysis and Thermal Performance Indicators: A Case Study in a Tropical Climate

Jesús Araúz, Dafni Mora and Miguel Chen Austin
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Jesús Araúz: Research Group Energy and Comfort in Bioclimatic Buildings, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Ciudad de Panama 0819-07289, Panama
Dafni Mora: Research Group Energy and Comfort in Bioclimatic Buildings, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Ciudad de Panama 0819-07289, Panama
Miguel Chen Austin: Research Group Energy and Comfort in Bioclimatic Buildings, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Ciudad de Panama 0819-07289, Panama

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Passive solutions for more energy-efficient buildings are critical to improving our odds in the current energy crisis. This work focuses on assessing the thermal performance of different envelope construction layouts in a tropical climate through proposed indicators regarding the thermal mass degree (TMD) and insulation degree (ID). For this, a numerical study was performed for a reference building (RB) in Panama City and validated with the electricity consumption bills. Behavioral and sensitivity analyses were employed to identify critical heat gains and the most important envelope constructions, resulting in the layouts of the roof and external walls. Optimization analyses were performed to find adequate layouts to reduce the discomfort hours. Different roofs, external walls, internal partition layouts, and glazing types were evaluated. Results indicated that the adequate envelope configuration is a roof layout with low TMD and ID, along with wall layouts with high TMD and low ID.

Keywords: building envelope; building performance indicators; optimization analysis; thermal comfort; tropical climate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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