THE IMPACT OF GLAZING TYPOLOGIES IN OFFICE BUILDINGS ON ENERGY USE: THE CASE OF MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

Abstract

Lately, achieving suitable indoor environments and minimizing energy usage and its detrimental effects on the ecosystem have emerged as two of the most crucial and vital goals in building design [1]. For this reason, figuring out how much energy building envelopes need is becoming very important. These days, a "high-performance window" is one that minimizes the quantity of non-regenerative energy used in the building while also guaranteeing the best possible thermal and visual comfort for the occupants of the building [2]. This research aims to estimate the energy performance of glazing in Mediterranean climate context. Also, it will explore the specific aspects of glazing technology, architectural design principles, and case studies to offer nuances perspective on how the role of glazing can be optimized in the pursuit of comfort and sustainability in office buildings within the Mediterranean climate, in the representative capital city of Albania, Tirana. In conducting a comprehensive analysis of the glazing overall energy performance on office buildings, a 20m x 30 m x 16m building is designed, 60 glazing scenarios are simulated and design variables such as building shape and orientation are meticulously chosen. The findings and subsequent discussions of the study reveal that across all scenarios involving double and triple glazing, the annual cooling energy demand consistently surpasses the heating energy demand. This phenomenon is attributed to the prevailing warm Mediterranean climate and the specific orientation of the building. The study's conclusion asserts that among the glazing scenarios examined, DG_1 and DG_2 exhibit the lowest energy consumption levels, contrasting with DG_9, which demonstrates the highest energy consumption, with a difference of 40%.

In conclusion, this research sheds light on the intricate interplay between glazing technology, architectural design, and energy performance in Mediterranean climate contexts, offering valuable insights for optimizing comfort and sustainability in office buildings, with implications for future design practices and energy policies.