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Effects of Building Design Elements on Residential Thermal Environment

Author

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  • Yingbao Yang

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Xize Zhang

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Xi Lu

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Jia Hu

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Xin Pan

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Qin Zhu

    (School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Weizhong Su

    (State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

Abstract

Residential thermal environment affects the life of residents in terms of their physical and mental health. Many studies have shown that building design elements affect the urban thermal environment. In this study, Nanjing City was used as the study area. A three-dimensional microclimate model was used to simulate and analyze the effects of four main factors, namely, building height, density, layout and green ratio, on thermal environment in residential areas. Results showed that 25% building density obtained a low average air temperature (ATa) and average predicted mean vote (APMV) during 24 h. Thus, a higher building height indicates a lower ATa and APMV and better outdoor comfort level. In addition, peripheral layout had the lowest ATa and APMV, followed by the determinant and point group layouts. The green ratio increased from 0% to 50% with a 10% step and the ATa and APMV decreased gradually. However, when the green ratio increased from 30% to 40%, ATa and APMV decreased most. The effects of building height, density and green ratio on the thermal environment in residential areas were interactive. The effects of building density, green ratio and layout on hourly air temperature and hourly predicted mean vote in daytime varied from these indicators during night time. How the four building design elements interact with thermal environment were probed from two aspects of air temperature and thermal comfort based on the validated ENVI-met, which is the element of novelty in this study. However, thermal comfort has rarely been considered in the past studies about urban outdoor thermal environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingbao Yang & Xize Zhang & Xi Lu & Jia Hu & Xin Pan & Qin Zhu & Weizhong Su, 2017. "Effects of Building Design Elements on Residential Thermal Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2017:i:1:p:57-:d:124590
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lili Zhang & Haoru Liu & Dong Wei & Fei Liu & Yanru Li & Haolin Li & Zhuojun Dong & Jingyue Cheng & Lei Tian & Guomin Zhang & Long Shi, 2022. "Impacts of Spatial Components on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Traditional Linpan Settlements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-26, May.
    2. Patryk Antoszewski & Michał Krzyżaniak & Dariusz Świerk, 2022. "The Future of Climate-Resilient and Climate-Neutral City in the Temperate Climate Zone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-60, April.
    3. Yingjie Jiang & Changguang Wu & Mingjun Teng, 2020. "Impact of Residential Building Layouts on Microclimate in a High Temperature and High Humidity Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Ruoning Chen & Xue-yi You, 2020. "Reduction of urban heat island and associated greenhouse gas emissions," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 689-711, April.

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