Assessment of Cool Roof Effects on Cooling Load and Indoor Thermal Comfort of Residential Building in Kabul

摘要

we need to emphasize that the building construction quality of most residential houses in Kabul is poor regarding the thermal comfort standard. The construction market lacks the knowledge and materials to build good performing buildings. Power grid electric is the main energy source for cooling. But the electricity still is not reliable of which 80% of that is imported from neighboring countries. The thermal comfort zone was affected during the day with about 1 degree but during the night acts similarly with other types of roofs except when there is no wind speed. (due to transmitting heat to the lower roof layers during the day, therefore it. increases heat capacity of the roof). Energy loss through flat roof is high (up to 30%) specially when there is no heat insulation. On the other hand, white paint as coating for the cool roofs can be 33% more efficient than typical dark concrete. This study was to investigate the potential for the improvement of indoor thermal comfort by applying cool roof in the most common housing typology in Kabul. The findings are not only valuable for improving comfort in the existing building, but they can be more effective in informing designers and homeowners of new constructions.