Effect of energy efficient building elements on summer cooling of buildings

Abstract

Growing energy demands with an increasing population have reiterated the importance of energy conservation. Buildings share a large portion of energy use worldwide. Energy efficient building technologies help to maximize solar heat gain in winter, minimize it in summer and optimize energy requirements in buildings. In present paper, effect of ventilated brick cavity wall with brick projections (independently and combined with designed static sunshade and hollow roof) on indoor air temperature has been analyzed experimentally by constructing four rooms of habitable dimensions (3.0 m × 4.0 m × 3.0 m high) and studying average hourly temperatures in summer. The combined effect of ventilated brick cavity wall with brick projections, designed static sunshade and hollow roof helped to lower indoor air temperature for hotter part of the day in the study period. It also lowered maximum and minimum indoor air temperature and swing in indoor air temperature although there was a large variation in outdoor air temperature. Combined effect of the energy efficient building elements is thus useful for summer cooling and energy conservation in buildings.