Investigation of urban microclimate parameters of city square in Harbin

Abstract

This chapter aims to address the characteristics of urban microclimates that affect building energy performance and the implementation of renewable energy technologies. An experimental campaign was designed to investigate microclimate parameters, including air and surface temperature, direct and diffuse solar irradiation levels on both horizontal and vertical surfaces, and wind speed and direction in a city square in Harbin, China. The outcomes of this research reveal that the climatic parameters are significantly influenced by the attributes of urban textures, which highlight the need to both provide microclimatic information and use it in building design stages. This research provides valuable microclimatic information for a city square in Harbin. The outcomes of this research demonstrate a need to conduct a feasibility study for the implementation of renewable energy technologies and a thermal/energy performance assessment of buildings using microclimatic information rather than meteorological weather data, which are mostly collected from nonurban environments.