Optimization of daylighting and energy performance in hot - Arid climate

Abstract

The daylighting performance, besides the thermal comfort of the buildings is extraordinarily needed to be determined at the early phases of design. In addition, the building envelope is playing a vital mediator between the building and other the surrounding conditions whether perceptible as climate change or intangible like cultural heritage identity. So that, studying responsive architecture for sustainable buildings by developing the daylighting performance, and reducing the energy consumption of the buildings are important scopes for getting rid of Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions to adapt and mitigate climate change and occupants' satisfaction. Currently, the hot-desert countries are carrying out the design strategies based on the fully glazed office buildings as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is called 'the International Style', was established for another climate. This causes an inefficient building performance coupled with identity crises. Furthermore, the artificial lighting and thermal comfort are two of the primary energy demands in the office buildings. In terms of both productivity and human comfort, the occupants 'satisfaction with their surrounding workplace is vital. So that, any strategy aims at decreasing exaggerated solar radiations and improving availability of daylight is deemed a sustainable strategy for design. Furthermore, there are limited performance evaluation tools offered to architects at the early phases of design. In this light, the state-of-the-art "Digital Age "has applied smarter and more interactive "building envelopes "to ensure environmental control and comfort. So that, this paper focuses on this problem in Hot - Arid countries.