Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This research investigates overheating risk and occupants’ thermal comfort within representative residential tower blocks (RTBs) in a large-scale social housing development in order to reduce energy consumption in the residential sector. The study adopts a quantitative research design, using a thermal imaging survey, in-situ measurements, a questionnaire and a building performance evaluation of a modelling and simulation of a base-case prototype building in summer and winter. The performance of a case study was modelled and simulated via employing Integrated Environmental Solution (IES) software suite. The results from the base case model were analysed according to the adaptive comfort of CIBSE Technical Memorandum 52 guidelines: The Limits of Thermal Comfort – Avoiding Overheating in European Buildings. In the non-retrofitted case, the cooling and heating comprised the greatest part (73%) of the total energy consumption. The study also analyses the effectiveness of six passive design strategies for optimising the indoor air-temperature and the occupants’ thermal comfort. According to the results of the dynamic thermal simulation, the required cooling consumption, a saving of around 81% was achieved. The results strongly suggest that the design, ventilation, and servicing strategies, combined with the appropriate passive shading systems, are appropriate in retrofitting of post-war social housing developments.