Thermo, Vol. 5, Pages 53: Optimization of the Performance of Double-Skin Façades Across Six Climates: Effects of Orientation, Blinds, and Overhangs on Energy Efficiency and Carbon Emissions

Thermo doi: 10.3390/thermo5040053

Authors:
Niloufar Ziasistani
Andrés Meana-Fernández
Antonio José Gutiérrez-Trashorras

The building sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy consumption and over one-third of energy-related carbon emissions. Therefore, it is vital to adopt low-carbon design strategies. Double-Skin Façades (DSFs) offer significant potential to improve energy efficiency through the dynamic control of heat and daylight. This study evaluates the combined effects of building orientation, fixed shading devices, and adjustable blinds on the performance of DSFs across six cities representing diverse climate types: Phoenix, Stockholm, Kuala Lumpur, London, Cape Town, and Tokyo. Using a model developed in DesignBuilder, 852 scenarios were simulated with 5-min time steps over a full year. The results show that optimal orientation depends on the climate and that cooling load may be reduced up to 59%, with CO2 emission savings up to 11.7% compared to a base south-facing configuration. External blinds outperformed internal blinds in reducing the cooling demand, reaching reductions of up to 27.7% in hot climates, though often increasing the heating load in cold climates. Combining overhangs and external blinds provided additional cooling savings in some cases but was generally less effective than external blinds alone. The findings highlight the importance of climate-specific DSF designs, with orientation and external blinds being the most effective strategies for reducing operational energy use and emissions.

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Niloufar Ziasistani www.mdpi.com