Improving the Energy Efficiency Of a Mediterranean High-Rise Envelope

This study focuses on the building envelope as the mediator between interior and exterior climatic conditions, examining its influence on energy loads. The parameters are: Climatic conditions of the building’s location (Mediterranean climate), the thermal properties of the building envelope, and the effect of building height, on a high-rise office building with increased internal heat gains. The proposed envelope under study is a glazed curtain wall design, reflecting current high-rise architectural tendencies. Simulation results are in favour of a double-skin envelope design, with double low-e glazing as the exterior layer, and single-layer clear glazing on the interior, with two exterior windows that open and close in relation to building height, exterior environmental conditions and interior thermal comfort. The outcome is a dynamic building envelope that adapts and performs in relation to the above parameters.