IMPACTS OF FACADE RETROFITTING WITH A HYBRID CLIMATICALLY INTER-ACTIVE BUILDING SKIN ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN HOT ARID AREAS

摘要

Facade retrofits and the implementation of energy conservation measures are regarded as a cost effective means of reducing building energy consumption. Office buildings in Cairo date back to the 1880's. Due to economic restrictions these buildings had undergone limited facade refurbishment. Applying second building skin technologies has been experimented by several leading architects in Europe, Australia and Japan. This paper explores the potential of application of second skin technology during building refurbishment to decrease the facades' effect on increasing peak cooling loads in hot arid areas. Different scenarios have been simulated on a virtual base-case, based on analysis of the existing building stock physical and architectural properties.