Thermal performance analysis on different types of glazing of public rental housing in Hong Kong

Abstract

Thermal properties of glazing facades and windows system may affect the solar heat gain through its heat transfer area to an enclosed built environment, eventually affects the electricity consumption of air-conditioning system. Advanced glazing technologies offer a lower solar heat gain. This research project examines the relationship between the types of glazing, orientation and window-to-wall ratio (WWR) against the solar heat gain through the fenestration and annual electricity end uses for a window-typed air-conditioning system, by means of building energy simulation software, EnergyPlus. Reduction of electricity end uses and windows heat addition for the same windows configuration with different advanced glazing ranges are 13.8% and 69.1% respectively, in Hong Kong. The relationship among different construction configuration and climate is investigated. The optimum choice of glazing for minimizing the heat gain and maximizing the visual transmissibility is also suggested in accordance to the simulation results.