Spatial configuration, building microclimate and thermal comfort
A modern house case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7480/abe.19.10.4107Abstract
In this paper, the authors attempt to clarify the relationship between spatial configuration, building microclimate and thermal comfort through the investigation of a modern house in hot and humid climate with spatial diversity. First, the spatial configuration of the house was analysed in detail. The spatial geometric features, spatial boundary conditions, and human activities in the building were categorised. Secondly, field measurements were conducted to investigate the microclimate of the house. The air temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity were monitored on typical summer days. Thirdly, a dynamic thermal simulation was performed to predict the thermal comfort performance of the building over the period of an entire summer. The simulated results were compared with the measurements, and the adaptive thermal comfort approach was used to evaluate the thermal comfort. The modern house studied was found to have a varied spatial configuration, similar to local vernacular buildings, which produces diverse thermal environments in the building. The microclimate of this specific building could provide considerable thermal comfort for the occupants in summer under the local climate conditions, although thermal comfort cannot be achieved through free-running model in the hottest days, mechanical cooling or mixed model are needed.
References
Andreou, E. (2013). Thermal comfort in outdoor spaces and urban canyon microclimate. Renewable Energy, 55, 182-188. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.12.040
ANSI/ASHRAE. (2017). ASHRAE standard 55 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
GA, USA: ASHRAE Atlanta.
Cardinale, N., Rospi, G., & Stefanizzi, P. (2013). Energy and microclimatic performance of Mediterranean vernacular buildings: The Sassi district of Matera and the Trulli district of Alberobello. Building and Environment, 59(0), 590-598. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.10.006
Chen, X., & Yang, H. (2015). Combined thermal and daylight analysis of a typical public rental housing development to fulfil green building guidance in Hong Kong. Energy and Buildings, 108, 420-432. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.09.032
Du, X., Bokel, R., & Dobbelsteen, A. v. d. (2016). Architectural Spatial Design Strategies for Summer Microclimate Control in Buildings: A Comparative Case Study of Chinese Vernacular and Modern Houses. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 15(2), 327-334. doi: 10.3130/jaabe.15.327
Du, X., Bokel, R., & van den Dobbelsteen, A. (2014). Building microclimate and summer thermal comfort in free-running buildings with diverse spaces: A Chinese vernacular house case. Building and Environment, 82, 215-227. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.08.022
EN15251. (2007). Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics. Brussels: European committee for standardisation.
Geetha, N. B., & Velraj, R. (2012). Passive cooling methods for energy efficient buildings with and without thermal energy storage - A review. [Review]. Energy Education Science and Technology Part a-Energy Science and Research, 29(2), 913-946.
Heidari, S. (2000). Thermal comfort in Iranian courtyard houseing University of Sheffield Unpublished Ph.D. thesis.
Humphreys, M. A. (1997). An adaptive approach to thermal comfort criteria. In D. Clements Croome (Ed.), Naturally Ventilated Buildings: Building for the Senses, the Economy and Society. London E and FN Spon.
Humphreys, M. A., & Nicol, J. F. (1998). Understanding the adaptive approach to thermal comfort ASHRAE Transactions, 104(1), 991-1004.
Li, Y. (2008). The study of the ventilation period and the effectiveness of control in residential building of Chongqing. master, Chongqing University, Chongqing.
Merghani, A. (2004). Exploring thermal comfort and spatial diversity. In K. Steemers & M. A. Steane (Eds.), Environmental diversity in architecture (pp. 195-213). London and New York: Taylor and Francis Group.
Mishra, A. K., & Ramgopal, M. (2013). Field studies on human thermal comfort — An overview. Building and Environment, 64, 94-106. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.02.015
National Meteorological Information Center of China Meteorological Administration, & Department of Building Technology Tsinghua University. (2005). Chinese meteorological dataset for built thermal environment. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press.
Nicol, F. (2004). Adaptive thermal comfort standards in the hot–humid tropics. Energy and Buildings, 36(7), 628-637. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2004.01.016
Nicol, F., Humphreys, M. A., & Roaf, S. (2012). Adaptive thermal comfort: principles and practice London and New York: Routledge.
Nicol, J. F., & Humphreys, M. A. (2002). Adaptive thermal comfort and sustainable thermal standards for buildings. Energy and Buildings, 34(6), 563-572. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00006-3
Niu, J., Liu, J., Lee, T.-c., Lin, Z., Mak, C., Tse, K.-T., . . . Kwok, K. C. S. (2015). A new method to assess spatial variations of outdoor thermal comfort: onsite monitoring results and implications for precinct planning. Building and Environment. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.02.017
Santamouris, M., & Asimakopoulos, D. (1996). Passive cooling of buildings. London: James and James
Silva, H. E., & Henriques, F. M. A. (2014). Microclimatic analysis of historic buildings: A new methodology for temperate climates. Building and Environment, 82, 381-387. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.09.005
Spagnolo, J., & de Dear, R. (2003). A field study of thermal comfort in outdoor and semi-outdoor environments in subtropical Sydney Australia. Building and Environment, 38(5), 721-738. doi: 10.1016/s0360-1323(02)00209-3
Steane, M. A. (2004). Environmental diversity and natural lighting strategies. In K. Steemers & M. A. Steane (Eds.), Environmental diversity in architecture (pp. 3-16). London and New York: Taylor and Francis Group.
Steemers, K., Ramos, M., & Sinou, M. (2004). Urban diversity. In K. Steemers & M. A. Steane (Eds.), Environmental diversity in architecture (pp. 85-100). London and New York: Taylor and Francis Group.
Su, X., Zhang, X., & Gao, J. (2009). Evaluation method of natural ventilation system based on thermal comfort in China. Energy and Buildings, 41(1), 67-70. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2008.07.010
Szokolay, S. V. (2000). Dilemmas of warm humid climate house design. Paper presented at the Proceedings of PLEA 2000 Architecture, City, Environment, Cambridge, England.
Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M., & van den Dobbelsteen, A. (2014). Indoor thermal comfort in urban courtyard block dwellings in the Netherlands. Building and Environment, 82, 566-579. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.09.028
Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M., van den Dobbelsteen, A., & de Dear, R. (2013). Energy use impact of and thermal comfort in different urban block types in the Netherlands. Energy and Buildings, 67, 166-175. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.08.024
Tsiros, I. X., & Hoffman, M. E. (2013). Thermal and comfort conditions in a semi-closed rear wooded garden and its adjacent semi-open spaces in a Mediterranean climate (Athens) during summer. Architectural Science Review, 57(1), 63-82. doi: 10.1080/00038628.2013.829021
Wang, Y., Long, E., & Deng, S. (2017). Applying passive cooling measures to a temporary disaster-relief prefabricated house to improve its indoor thermal environment in summer in the subtropics. Energy and Buildings, 139, 456-464. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.081
Wang, Z., Zhang, L., Zhao, J., & He, Y. (2010). Thermal comfort for naturally ventilated residential buildings in Harbin. Energy and Buildings, 42(12), 2406-2415. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.08.010
Yang, L. (2003). Climatic analysis techniques and architectural design strategies for bioclimatic design. Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an.
Ye, X. J., Zhou, Z. P., Lian, Z. W., Liu, H. M., Li, C. Z., & Liu, Y. M. (2006). Field study of a thermal environment and adaptive model in Shanghai. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t]. Indoor Air, 16(4), 320-326. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2006.00434.x
Zhang, H., Arens, E., Fard, S. A., Huizenga, C., Paliaga, G., Brager, G., & Zagreus, L. (2007). Air movement preferences observed in office buildings. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t
Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, Non-P.H.S.]. Int J Biometeorol, 51(5), 349-360. doi: 10.1007/s00484-006-0079-y
