An evaluation of the combined effect of window shading and themal mass to reduce overheating

Jimenez-Bescos, Carlos

Abstract

Thermal mass has the benefit of regulating energy in buildings and generates potential savings in energy and CO 2 emissions. Window and local shading can provide shelter and reduce the severity of overheating during the year and mostly during the summer period. The aim of this study was firstly to evaluate the influence of window shading to reduce overheating and secondly to assess the thermal mass benefits in the presence of shading devices to alleviate the impact of overheating. This study was based on dynamic thermal simulations to analyse the performance of different window and local shading devices to avoid overheating. Twenty building simulation models were performed using the Energyplus plugin in DesignBuilder to evaluate the effect on the thermal mass behaviour to mitigate overheating according to different window shading devices. This study confirmed, as expected, that the use of window shading helps to alleviate the overheating hours in the test room and as such, improving the thermal comfort and reducing the need for cooling. Furthermore, when the window shading devices are coupling with thermal mass and night ventilation, the reduction on overheating hours achieved will reach a reduction of over 50% with respect to not exposing the thermal mass. In conclusion, exposing the thermal mass coupled with a night ventilation strategy provides a reduction on overheating hours, which is increased by using different window shading devices. Exposure of the thermal mass provides a good strategy for reducing the need for cooling and increasing thermal comfort.

Citation

Jimenez-Bescos, C. (2018). An evaluation of the combined effect of window shading and themal mass to reduce overheating. In Cold Climate HVAC 2018 (637-644). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00662-4_53

• Conference Name: Cold Climate HVAC Conference (CCC 2018)
• Conference Location: Kiruna, Sweden
• Start Date: Mar 12, 2018
• End Date: Mar 15, 2018
• Acceptance Date: Dec 12, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Dec 12, 2018
• Publication Date: Dec 12, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 13, 2019
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• Pages: 637-644
• Series Title: Springer Proceedings in Energy
• Book Title: Cold Climate HVAC 2018
• ISBN: 978-3-030-00661-7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00662-4_53
• Keywords: Window Shading; Overheating; Dynamic Simulation; Thermal Mass
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1611612
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-00662-4_53