IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v163y2022ics1364032122004117.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Urban block configuration and the impact on energy consumption: A case study of sinuous morphology

Author

Listed:
  • Shareef, Sundus
  • Altan, Hasim

Abstract

Building morphology and urban block configuration are influential urban design elements that control and optimize the outdoor and indoor thermal performance. In hot climate areas, cooling load is the major contribution to the total energy consumption, so it is essential to adopt design tools to enhance the building performance and reduce energy consumption and emissions. Previous studies proved the impact of urban block morphology on indoor energy consumption. However, the performance of buildings in Sinuous Configuration (SC) within the urban block has not been investigated in previous literature. This study aims to find the impact of SC of urban block configuration on outdoor microclimate parameters and indoor energy consumption. The UAE climate hot conditions were adopted to explore the SC of the urban block on outdoor thermal performance and indoor energy consumption using two simulation programs ENVI-MET and IES-VE. The outdoor thermal performance in this study is expressed by; 1) air temperature, 2) wind velocity, and 3) relative humidity at the height of the pedestrian level, 1.4 m from the ground. The results show that the SC where the buildings are arranged alternatively within the urban block, reduced the air temperature by 1.9 °C compared to the base case of grid arrangement. This result was reflected positively on energy consumption by reducing the conduction and solar gains, consequently, the cooling load decreased by 4.9% compared to the base case. Furthermore, the SC has a clear impact on wind speed and behavior, as wind speed reduced up to 68%, but the airflow and distribution enhanced within the urban block canyons and alleys around the buildings. This study contributes to urban planning policies and regulations by providing an optimized urban block configuration for hot climate areas. However, the impact of SC on outdoor thermal comfort in hot and humid areas can be recommended for further studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Shareef, Sundus & Altan, Hasim, 2022. "Urban block configuration and the impact on energy consumption: A case study of sinuous morphology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:163:y:2022:i:c:s1364032122004117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112507
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032122004117
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112507?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Toparlar, Y. & Blocken, B. & Maiheu, B. & van Heijst, G.J.F., 2018. "Impact of urban microclimate on summertime building cooling demand: A parametric analysis for Antwerp, Belgium," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 852-872.
    2. Lewis Gill & E. Abigail Hathway & Eckart Lange & Ed Morgan & Daniela Romano, 2013. "Coupling Real-Time 3D Landscape Models with Microclimate Simulations," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 2(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Andreou, E. & Axarli, K., 2012. "Investigation of urban canyon microclimate in traditional and contemporary environment. Experimental investigation and parametric analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 354-363.
    4. Robert D. Brown, 2012. "Book Review: Urban Microclimate: Designing the Spaces Between Buildings," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(5), pages 1157-1159, April.
    5. Wang, Wei & Jing, Rui & Zhao, Yingru & Zhang, Chuan & Wang, Xiaonan, 2020. "A load-complementarity combined flexible clustering approach for large-scale urban energy-water nexus optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    6. Andreou, E., 2014. "The effect of urban layout, street geometry and orientation on shading conditions in urban canyons in the Mediterranean," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 587-596.
    7. Peng, Lilliana L.H. & Jiang, Zhidian & Yang, Xiaoshan & Wang, Qingqing & He, Yunfei & Chen, Sophia Shuang, 2020. "Energy savings of block-scale facade greening for different urban forms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. He, Q. & Tapia, F. & Reith, A., 2023. "Quantifying the influence of nature-based solutions on building cooling and heating energy demand: A climate specific review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    2. Zhang, Hongjie & Yao, Runming & Luo, Qing & Wang, Wenbo, 2022. "A mathematical model for a rapid calculation of the urban canyon albedo and its applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 836-851.
    3. Alireza Karimi & Pir Mohammad & Antonio García-Martínez & David Moreno-Rangel & Darya Gachkar & Sadaf Gachkar, 2023. "New developments and future challenges in reducing and controlling heat island effect in urban areas," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 10485-10531, October.
    4. Andreou, E., 2014. "The effect of urban layout, street geometry and orientation on shading conditions in urban canyons in the Mediterranean," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 587-596.
    5. Ulpiani, Giulia, 2019. "Water mist spray for outdoor cooling: A systematic review of technologies, methods and impacts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    6. Meng, Fanchao & Zhang, Lei & Ren, Guoyu & Zhang, Ruixue, 2023. "Impacts of UHI on variations in cooling loads in buildings during heatwaves: A case study of Beijing and Tianjin, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    7. Duan, Shuangping & Luo, Zhiwen & Yang, Xinyan & Li, Yuguo, 2019. "The impact of building operations on urban heat/cool islands under urban densification: A comparison between naturally-ventilated and air-conditioned buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 129-138.
    8. Fatima Zahra Ben Ratmia & Atef Ahriz & Giovanni Santi & Soumia Bouzaher & Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Mohamed Akram Eddine Ben Ratmia & Mohamed Elhadi Matallah, 2023. "Street Design Strategies Based on Spatial Configurations and Building External Envelopes in Relation to Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Arid Climates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25, December.
    9. Shiyi Song & Hong Leng & Han Xu & Ran Guo & Yan Zhao, 2020. "Impact of Urban Morphology and Climate on Heating Energy Consumption of Buildings in Severe Cold Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-24, November.
    10. Hong Jin & Jing Zhao & Siqi Liu & Jian Kang, 2018. "Climate Adaptability Construction Technology of Historic Conservation Areas: The Case Study of the Chinese–Baroque Historic Conservation Area in Harbin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, September.
    11. Tian, B. & Loonen, R.C.G.M. & Bognár, Á. & Hensen, J.L.M., 2022. "Impacts of surface model generation approaches on raytracing-based solar potential estimation in urban areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 804-824.
    12. Edmonds, Lawryn & Derby, Melanie & Hill, Mary & Wu, Hongyu, 2021. "Coordinated operation of water and electricity distribution networks with variable renewable energy and distribution locational marginal pricing," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 1438-1450.
    13. Tan, Taotao & Kong, Fanhua & Yin, Haiwei & Cook, Lauren M. & Middel, Ariane & Yang, Shaoqi, 2023. "Carbon dioxide reduction from green roofs: A comprehensive review of processes, factors, and quantitative methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    14. Lee, Kyung Sun & Lee, Jae Wook & Lee, Jae Seung, 2016. "Feasibility study on the relation between housing density and solar accessibility and potential uses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 749-758.
    15. Golnoosh Manteghi & Hasanuddin limit & Dilshan Remaz, 2015. "Water Bodies an Urban Microclimate: A Review," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(6), pages 1-1, June.
    16. Ntumba Marc-Alain Mutombo & Bubele Papy Numbi, 2022. "The Development of ARIMA Models for the Clear Sky Beam and Diffuse Optical Depths for HVAC Systems Design Using RTSM: A Case Study of the Umlazi Township Area, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Kyoumars Habibi & Seyedeh Maryam Hoseini & Majid Dehshti & Mojtaba Khanian & Amir Mosavi, 2020. "The Impact of Natural Elements on Environmental Comfort in the Iranian-Islamic Historical City of Isfahan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.
    18. Bouketta, S. & Bouchahm, Y., 2020. "Numerical evaluation of urban geometry's control of wind movements in outdoor spaces during winter period. Case of Mediterranean climate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1062-1069.
    19. Wei Chen & Jianjun Zhang & Xuelian Shi & Shidong Liu, 2020. "Impacts of Building Features on the Cooling Effect of Vegetation in Community-Based MicroClimate: Recognition, Measurement and Simulation from a Case Study of Beijing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-22, November.
    20. Ahmed Yasser Abdelmejeed & Dietwald Gruehn, 2023. "Optimization of Microclimate Conditions Considering Urban Morphology and Trees Using ENVI-Met: A Case Study of Cairo City," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-34, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:163:y:2022:i:c:s1364032122004117. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.