The Role of Double Skin Facade Configurations on Optimizing Building Energy Performance in Erbil City

Abstract

Carefully designing a building façade is the most crucial way to save energy. A double skin façade is one of the effective strategies for achieving energy efficiency. This depends on the configuration chosen for the double skin façade that synchronizes with climate conditions. The study aims to investigate the best-case scenario with appropriate double-skin façade configuration for optimizing building energy performance. A methodology for optimizing the building's initial condition was introduced using EnergyPlus and ClimateStudio according to the one-year period of Erbil city. Analyzation of double skin parameters performed through utilizing a multi-objective analysis approach. Four geometric configurations were assessed; building-high, story-high, shaft-box, and box-window. The results offered annual and seasonal consumption curves for each orientation. Shaft-box double skin façade significantly reduces the amount of cooling energy due to massive airflow between two skins. a significant drop in the annual cooling demand of 9–14%. The use of an appropriate double skin façade greatly benefits Erbil city climate as it can result in annual energy savings of up to 116,574 kWh.