Volume 15: Low Carbon Cities and Urban Energy Systems: Part IV

Identification and comparison of key design parameters of high-rise and low- rise zero/low energy buildings in subtropical regions Zeming Zhao, Hangxin LI, Shengwei Wang

Abstract

Zero/low energy buildings, as an important means to facilitate the achievement of carbon neutrality, are receiving increasing attention worldwide. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the key design parameters for zero/low energy buildings. However, these studies mainly focus on low-rise buildings. Few study has comprehensively investigated the key design parameters of high-rise buildings and compared with that of low-rise buildings, which is essential to achieve the zero /low energy buildings in cities with many high-rises. In this study, the key design parameters of high-rise and low-rise buildings in subtropical regions are identified by sensitivity analysis (SA), and the impacts of building height on the key building design focus are investigated. The SA is performed using Morris, in which a comprehensive consideration of 34 parameters (in 5 PMVhourly categories) affecting building performance are taken. Symbols The key design parameters affecting building energy consumption and winter thermal discomfort of high-rise and low-rise buildings in subtropical regions are identified respectively. Remarkable finding is that the overhang is the most influential element of the high-rise buildings, while skylight is the most influential element of the low-rise buildings concerning building energy consumption. The studied results may offer valuable references for the building envelope design in subtropical regions.

Keywords Zero/low energy building, sensitivity analysis, building envelope design, impact of building height, building energy consumption, thermal comfort