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Energy-efficient Tall buildings design strategies: A holistic approach

Research Authors
Hazem Elotefy
Khaled S.S. Abdelmagid
Ezzat Morghany
Tarek M.F. Ahmed
Research Year
2015
Research Journal
Energy Procedia - ScienceDrect
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
74 ( 2015 )
Research Rank
1
Research_Pages
1358 – 1369
Research Website
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610215015507
Research Abstract

The number of tall buildings is increasing as a result of the advances in construction technologies and the rising land prices. These buildings are characterised by their high energy consumption compared to other building types as they rely intensively on mechanical HVAC systems due to the extreme weather conditions associated with the increase in height. However, they present a great opportunity for energy savings. In recent years, it has been noticed the increasing interest in geometry and form of tall buildings, as a result of the evolution of parametric modelling and 3D visualisation tools, on the expense of the environmental aspect. This paper discusses factors affecting the energy consumption in the tall buildings. Through an extensive analysis of Literature, active and passive energy efficient strategies adopted in tall building at various building stages are identified. In addition, the role of architectural design parameters, such as building form, orientation and envelope on the tall building energy performance are highlighted. Finally, a set of guidelines and environmental design strategies to be considered in different phases in order to achieve energy-efficient tall buildings are proposed. These strategies have been categorised into four stages namely early design, conceptualisation, and documentation and operational. A 3D modelling approach was used to visualise and illustrate the proposed strategies in different stages.