Annual Thermal Performance of a Hollow Roof in Combination with a Cavity Wall and Static Sunshade: Experimental Study of Energy-Efficient Rooms

Abstract

Energy consumption by the building sector constitutes a large portion of global energy use. Energy-efficient building technologies help to reduce heat gain in hot summer months, heat loss in cold winter months, and modify energy requirements in buildings. In the writers’ paper, the effect of a proposed hollow roof (independent of and combined with a designed brick-cavity wall with brick projections and static sunshade) on indoor air temperature has been analyzed experimentally by constructing four rooms of habitable dimensions (3.0×4.0×3.0-m high) and studying average hourly temperatures for 1 year. Each room has a different combination of type of roof, wall, and static sunshade; hence, the difference in indoor air temperature of the rooms will primarily be attributable to differences in heat transferred through these building elements. The proposed hollow roof combined with the designed brick-cavity wall with brick projections and static sunshade lessened indoor air temperature in summer and increased indoor air temperature in winter mornings and nights. The writers’ structures are thus useful for energy conservation per seasonal needs