Influence of climate change on summer cooling costs and heat stress in urban office buildings

Hooyberghs, Hans; Verbeke, Stijn; Lauwaet, Dirk; Costa, Hélia; Floater, Graham; Ridder, Koen De

doi:10.1007/s10584-017-2058-1

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The UrbClim model has already been coupled offline to a building energy simulation model to calculate indoor heat stress, based on the WBGT [44]. Here, we present a method to calculate outdoor WBGT values from the UrbClim model results.…”

Section: Outdoor Wbgt Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Method to Assess Fine-Scale Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Urban Agglomerations

Lauwaet

Maiheu

Ridder

et al. 2020

Climate

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In urban areas, high air temperatures and heat stress levels greatly affect human thermal comfort and public health, with climate change further increasing the mortality risks. This study presents a high resolution (100 m) modelling method, including detailed offline radiation calculations, that is able to efficiently calculate outdoor heat stress for entire urban agglomerations for a time period spanning several months. A dedicated measurement campaign was set up to evaluate model performance, yielding satisfactory results. As an example, the modelling tool was used to assess the effectiveness of green areas and water surfaces to cool air temperatures and wet bulb globe temperatures during a typical hot day in the city of Ghent (Belgium), since the use of vegetation and water bodies are shown to be promising in mitigating the adverse effects of urban heat islands and improving thermal comfort. The results show that air temperature reduction is most profound over water surfaces during the afternoon, while open rural areas are coolest during the night. Radiation shading from trees, and to a lesser extent, from buildings, is found to be most effective in reducing wet bulb globe temperatures and improving thermal comfort during the warmest moments of the day.

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Section: Outdoor Wbgt Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Method to Assess Fine-Scale Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Urban Agglomerations

Lauwaet

Maiheu

Ridder

et al. 2020

Climate

Self Cite

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“…agriculture, military, mining, sports). However, outdoor meteorological conditions also have a strong influence on people who work inside [29], such as most urban people, even if they have access to air-conditioning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived heat stress increases with population density in urban Philippines

Zander

Cadag

Escarcha

et al. 2018

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…The metabolism of the office staff together with heat dissipation from office lighting and office equipment increase the internal heat of office buildings. With climate change and the intensification of the urban heat island effect, office buildings are particularly vulnerable to overheating [26]. Elevated air temperatures can result in thermal discomfort and this has a negative impact on work efficiency [27][28][29].…”

Section: Disadvantages Of Overheated Buildingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Summer Overheating in Concrete Block and Cross Laminated Timber Office Buildings in the Severe Cold and Cold Regions of China

et al. 2021

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The aims of the paper were to clarify whether office buildings in the severe cold and cold regions are overheating, especially those with natural ventilation, and whether potential overheating is related to the building materials. The severe cold and cold regions of China were considered to be cool regions during summer. However, with global warming, improvements in the thermal performance of the building envelope and the urban heat island effect, office buildings in these regions are showing different degrees of overheating during summer. Two office building materials commonly used in this area, cross laminated timber (CLT) and concrete block, were simulated in this study. With reference to the overheating standard, the degree of overheating in six cities in the severe cold and cold regions was quantitatively analysed and the extent of overheating for the two building materials was compared. Finally, the influence of thermal insulation on building overheating is discussed, and some suggestions are put forward to improve the relevant national regulations in China. The results show that office buildings in the severe cold and cold regions experience overheating during summer, and CLT buildings are more prone to overheating than concrete buildings during summer. This is attributable to the different thermal mass of the materials. Thick insulation does increase the risk of building overheating, and the effect on concrete buildings is more pronounced. Concrete buildings with an insulation layer can experience overheating for 27–71 h more than buildings without an insulation layer. Insulation on CLT buildings only results in an increase of 11–37 h. When considering the current situation with summer overheating in the severe cold and cold regions, relevant codes should also be modified and improved accordingly to guide building design, so as to achieve low-carbon and energy-saving goals.

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Influence of climate change on summer cooling costs and heat stress in urban office buildings

Abstract: Influence of climate change on summer cooling costs and heat stress in urban office buildings. Climatic Change, 144 (4). pp. 721-735.

Cited by 24 publications

References 38 publications

A New Method to Assess Fine-Scale Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Urban Agglomerations

A New Method to Assess Fine-Scale Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Urban Agglomerations

Perceived heat stress increases with population density in urban Philippines

Assessment of Summer Overheating in Concrete Block and Cross Laminated Timber Office Buildings in the Severe Cold and Cold Regions of China

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