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Energy-Efficient Window Retrofit for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Different Climatic Zones of China

Author

Listed:
  • Qiong He

    (School of Economics and Management, Nanjing Technology University, Nanjing 211816, China)

  • S. Thomas Ng

    (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Md. Uzzal Hossain

    (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Martin Skitmore

    (School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Q4001, Australia)

Abstract

The building envelope plays a significant role in the energy performance of buildings and windows are a key element in transmitting heating and cooling between the indoor and outdoor environment, and hence an adequate window system is one of the most important retrofit strategies of existing buildings for energy conservation. Therefore, this study presents a method with a theoretical case study to examine the improvement of energy efficiency in a typical high-rise residential building through window retrofitting. A building energy design model in Designbuilder along with a building information modeling (BIM) model in Revit are developed, with 20 common potential glazing alternatives being analyzed to predict the potential energy savings in the same case building with identical orientation located in a variety of climate zones in China. Based on different parameters and considerations, the results demonstrated that the currently relatively expensive low-e window glazing has the best energy performance in all climate zones, but is sufficiently close to conventionally glazed windows in its energy efficiency to discourage its adoption at present, and that, instead, a single dark conventional glazed window is preferred in a hot summer/warm winter climate, double dark traditional glazing in a hot summer/cold winter climate, and a double clear conventional window in a cold climate. Based on the simulated results, an indicative suggestion was provided to select an adequate window system for residential building retrofitting in the studied climates or similar climatic regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiong He & S. Thomas Ng & Md. Uzzal Hossain & Martin Skitmore, 2019. "Energy-Efficient Window Retrofit for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Different Climatic Zones of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6473-:d:287987
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xie, Xing & Xu, Bin & Fei, Yue & Chen, Xing-ni & Pei, Gang & Ji, Jie, 2024. "Passive energy-saving design strategy and realization on high window-wall ratio buildings in subtropical regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Ma Katrina Rañeses & Alice Chang-Richards & Kevin I-Kai Wang & Kim Natasha Dirks, 2021. "Housing for Now and the Future: A Systematic Review of Climate-Adaptive Measures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Haibo Yu & Hui Zhang & Xiaolin Han & Ningcheng Gao & Zikang Ke & Junle Yan, 2023. "An Empirical Study of a Passive Exterior Window for an Office Building in the Context of Ultra-Low Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Wen Cao & Lin Yang & Qinyi Zhang & Lihua Chen & Weidong Wu, 2021. "Evaluation of Rural Dwellings’ Energy-Saving Retrofit with Adaptive Thermal Comfort Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, May.

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