This study evaluated the potential of toplighting systems in the hot and humid tropics by using Bangkok, Thailand (latitude 13.7°N) as a test location. The analysis tested both the thermal and lighting performance of three toplighting systems. Toplighting, designed for use in one-story buildings or on the top floor of taller buildings, yields a uniformly distributed light throughout a space. However, in lower latitude locations, where there is no heating period, heat gain is a critical design issue since it significantly affects the annual energy consumption of the building. Accordingly, the decision to use toplighting in these locations needs to be carefully examined before any design considerations occur. In this study, the thermal and lighting performance of three toplighting systems were compared. For the thermal performance, total cooling loads, heat gains and losses, and interior temperature were evaluated. The lighting performance parameters examined were daylight factor, illuminance level, light distribution, and uniformity. EnergyPlus was used as the thermal analysis tool, and RADIANCE, along with a physical scale model, was used as the lighting performance analysis tool. The sky conditions tested were overcast, clear sky, and intermediate sky. Results have shown that, for locations with hot and humid climates with variable sky conditions such as Bangkok, Thailand, the roof monitors perform better than the other two systems in terms of the thermal and lighting performance. With similar cooling loads, the roof monitor provides better illuminance uniformity than the skylights and lightscoops, with adequate illuminance level (at mostly higher than 500 lux).

This study evaluated the potential of toplighting systems in the hot and humid tropics by using Bangkok, Thailand (latitude 13.7°N) as a test location. The analysis tested both the thermal and lighting performance of three toplighting systems. Toplighting, designed for use in one-story buildings or on the top floor of taller buildings, yields a uniformly distributed light throughout a space. However, in lower latitude locations, where there is no heating period, heat gain is a critical design issue since it significantly affects the annual energy consumption of the building. Accordingly, the decision to use toplighting in these locations needs to be carefully examined before any design considerations occur. In this study, the thermal and lighting performance of three toplighting systems were compared. For the thermal performance, total cooling loads, heat gains and losses, and interior temperature were evaluated. The lighting performance parameters examined were daylight factor, illuminance level, light distribution, and uniformity. EnergyPlus was used as the thermal analysis tool, and RADIANCE, along with a physical scale model, was used as the lighting performance analysis tool. The sky conditions tested were overcast, clear sky, and intermediate sky. Results have shown that, for locations with hot and humid climates with variable sky conditions such as Bangkok, Thailand, the roof monitors perform better than the other two systems in terms of the thermal and lighting performance. With similar cooling loads, the roof monitor provides better illuminance uniformity than the skylights and lightscoops, with adequate illuminance level (at mostly higher than 500 lux).

Energy-efficient building design involves minimizing the energy use and optimizing the performance of individual systems and components of the building. The benefits of energyefficient design, in the residential sector, are direct and tangible, provided that design strategies with a substantial combined energy and cost-saving potential are adopted. Many studies have been performed to evaluate the energy-saving potential and the costeffectiveness of various design options, and to identify conditions for optimizing the performance of building systems and components. The results of these studies, published in various resources, were analyzed discretely using different techniques, and were reported using different bases for comparison. Considering the complex interaction of, and energy flows through various building components, it is difficult to directly compare/combine the results from various studies to determine the energy-saving potential of combination of strategies, and to select an appropriate set of strategies for making design decisions. Therefore, this thesis develops a comprehensive survey and analysis of energy-efficient design strategies and their energy-saving potential, in isolation as well as in combination, using a DOE-2 simulation model of a prototype house in the hot and humid climate of Houston, Texas. Optimized strategies that included building configuration, materials/ assembly for building envelop components, and efficient mechanical and electrical systems, equipment and appliances, were applied in combination that could minimize the annual energy use. Application of these strategies is expected to allow downsizing systems and equipment and to confirm their operation at their rated performance, resulting in additional installation and operation cost savings. The study is concluded by outlining the procedures for selecting optimized set of strategies, and by developing guidelines for achieving maximum energy-efficiency in singlefamily detached houses in hot and humid climates. Thus, this study will facilitate the selection of energy-saving measures for their individual or combined application for developing energyefficient residences in hot and humid climates.

This study is an attempt at achieving Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) using a solar Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) based on exergetic and economic measures. The working fluid, working conditions of the cycle, cycle configuration, and solar collector type are considered the optimization parameters for the solar ORC system. In the first section, a procedure is developed to compare ORC working fluids based on their molecular components, temperature-entropy diagram and fluid effects on the thermal efficiency, net power generated, vapor expansion ratio, and exergy efficiency of the Rankine cycle. Fluids with the best cycle performance are recognized in two different temperature levels within two different categories of fluids: refrigerants and non-refrigerants. Important factors that could lead to irreversibility reduction of the solar ORC are also investigated in this study. In the next section, the system requirements needed to maintain the electricity demand of a geothermal air-conditioned commercial building located in Pensacola of Florida is considered as the criteria to select the optimal components and optimal working condition of the system. The solar collector loop, building, and geothermal air conditioning system are modeled using TRNSYS. Available electricity bills of the building and the 3-week monitoring data on the performance of the geothermal system are employed to calibrate the simulation. The simulation is repeated for Miami and Houston in order to evaluate the effect of the different solar radiations on the system requirements. The final section discusses the exergoeconomic analysis of the ORC system with the optimum performance. Exergoeconomics rests on the philosophy that exergy is the only rational basis for assigning monetary costs to a system’s interactions with its surroundings and to the sources of thermodynamic inefficiencies within it. Exergoeconomic analysis of the optimal ORC system shows that the ratio Rex of the annual exergy loss to the capital cost can be considered a key parameter in optimizing a solar ORC system from the thermodynamic and economic point of view. It also shows that there is a systematic correlation between the exergy loss and capital cost for the investigated solar ORC system.

This thesis presents an investigation into the viability of Low Energy Earth Pipe Cooling Technology in providing thermal comfort in Malaysia. The demand for air-conditioning in buildings in Malaysia affects the country escalating energy consumption. Therefore, this investigation was intended to seek for a passive cooling alternative to air-conditioning. By reducing the air-conditioning demand, there would be a higher chance of Malaysia government to achieve their aim in reducing CO2 emissions to 40 per cent by the year 2020, compared to 2005 levels. The passive technology, where the ground was used as a heat sink to produce cooler air, has not been investigated systematically in hot and humid countries. In this work, air and soil temperatures were measured on a test site in Kuala Lumpur. At 1m underground, the result is most significant, where the soil temperature are 6oC and 9oC lower than the maximum ambient temperature during wet and dry season, respectively. Polyethylene pipes were buried around 0.5m, 1.0m and 1.5m underground and temperature drop between inlet and outlet were compared. A significant temperature drop was found in these pipes: up to 6.4oC and 6.9oC depending on the season of the year. The results have shown the potential of Earth Pipe in providing low energy cooling in Malaysia. A parametric study on the same experiment was carried out using Energy Plus programme. Energy Plus data agreed with the field work data and therefore, this confirms Energy Plus is reliable to investigate Earth Pipe Cooling in Malaysia. Furthermore, thermal comfort of air at the Earth Pipe outlet was analyzed and the result has shown that the outlet air is within the envelope of thermal comfort conditions for hot/humid countries

This research seeks to find a design solution for reducing the energy usage in high-rise office buildings in Singapore. There are numerous methods and techniques that could be employed to achieve the purpose of designing energy efficient buildings. The Thesis explores the viability of double-skin fa??ades (DSF) to provide natural ventilation as an energy efficient solution for office buildings in hot and humid environment by using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and case study methodologies. CFD simulations were used to examine various types of DSF used in office buildings and the behaviour of airflow and thermal transfer through the DSF; the internal thermal comfort levels of each office spaces were analyzed and compared; and an optimization methodology was developed to explore the best DSF configuration to be used in high-rise office buildings in the tropics. The correlation between the fa??ade configurations, the thermal comfort parameters, and the internal office space energy consumption through the DSF is studied and presented. The research outcome of the Thesis has found that significant energy saving is possible if natural ventilation strategies could be exploited with the use of DSF. A prototype DSF configuration which will be best suited for the tropical environment in terms of its energy efficiency through cross ventilation strategy is proposed in this Thesis. A series of comprehensive and user-friendly nomograms for design optimization in selecting the most appropriate double-skin fa??ade configurations with considerations of various orientations for the use in high-rise office buildings in the tropics were also presented.

This research seeks to find a design solution for reducing the energy usage in high-rise office buildings in Singapore. There are numerous methods and techniques that could be employed to achieve the purpose of designing energy efficient buildings. The Thesis explores the viability of double-skin fa??ades (DSF) to provide natural ventilation as an energy efficient solution for office buildings in hot and humid environment by using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and case study methodologies. CFD simulations were used to examine various types of DSF used in office buildings and the behaviour of airflow and thermal transfer through the DSF; the internal thermal comfort levels of each office spaces were analyzed and compared; and an optimization methodology was developed to explore the best DSF configuration to be used in high-rise office buildings in the tropics. The correlation between the fa??ade configurations, the thermal comfort parameters, and the internal office space energy consumption through the DSF is studied and presented. The research outcome of the Thesis has found that significant energy saving is possible if natural ventilation strategies could be exploited with the use of DSF. A prototype DSF configuration which will be best suited for the tropical environment in terms of its energy efficiency through cross ventilation strategy is proposed in this Thesis. A series of comprehensive and user-friendly nomograms for design optimization in selecting the most appropriate double-skin fa??ade configurations with considerations of various orientations for the use in high-rise office buildings in the tropics were also presented.

O emprego da arquitetura bioclimática conduz à minimização dos impactos de uma intervenção no meio e à obtenção de uma relação mais harmoniosa entre paisagem e construção. Esta pesquisa evidencia o potencial da ventilação natural como recurso para resfriamento em climas quentes e úmidos, contribuindo para o aprofundamento no estudo de estratégias de projeto que auxiliem na maior integração do edifício com o clima e contexto locais. Analisa as estratégias de ventilação natural adotadas pelo arquiteto Severiano Porto em suas obras, dada a importância deste tipo de solução para obtenção de conforto térmico em clima tropical quente e úmido. Realiza-se por meio de discussão e análise de três obras do arquiteto, localizadas na cidade de Manaus-AM, e as diferentes soluções propostas, quanto à sua adeqüabilidade e eficiência. A análise se divide em duas etapas: primeiramente a análise qualitativa e descritiva, baseada em leitura de projeto, onde é verificada a incorporação de conceitos bioclimáticos nas edificações e são identificadas as soluções de ventilação natural propostas, através do desenho e caracterização dos sistemas encontrados; seguida da análise quantitativa, realizada através de pesquisa de campo e medições das variáveis ambientais temperatura, umidade relativa e velocidade do ar. A análise dos resultados foi realizada com base nos métodos de Mahoney e ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, assim como em alguns parâmetros obtidos em literatura especializada. Pôde-se identificar as estratégias de ventilação natural utilizadas, tanto cruzada como de efeito chaminé, avaliando-se detalhadamente seu desempenho nos três edifícios. A pesquisa contribui no aperfeiçoamento das soluções projetuais de ventilação natural, visando valorizar o uso de estratégias de energia passiva na arquitetura. Evidencia também a contribuição de Porto no desenvolvimento de uma arquitetura atenta a princípios bioclimáticos. / Bioclimatic architecture consists in minimizing the impacts of an intervention on the environment and obtaining a close relationship between building and nature. This research emphasizes the importance of natural ventilation as a cooling resource for hot and humid climates, contributing for the study of project strategies that adjust to local context and environment. Analyses the natural ventilation strategies used by the architect Severiano Porto in his buildings, since it is an important kind of solution to obtain thermal comfort in tropical hot and humid weather. It presents the discussion and analysis of three of his main works, placed in the city of Manaus, and the efficiency of the different solutions proposed. The analysis is divided in two steps: first a qualitative and descriptive analysis, based on project examination, where the incorporation of bioclimatic concepts in the buildings is verified and the natural ventilation solutions are identified; followed by a quantitative analysis, based on field studies and measurement of the variables temperature, humidity and air velocity. The result analysis was based on the Mahoney and ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 methods, and data obtained in specialized literature. Natural ventilation strategies could be identified, either cross as stack, allowing a detailed evaluation of performance of the three buildings. The research contributes on the improvement of the architectonic solutions on natural ventilation, on the purpose of valuing the use of passive energy strategies in architecture. Valorizes also Porto’s contribution to the development of an architecture that is attentive to bioclimatic principles.

A procedure has been developed for the preliminary selection of high-performance systems for office buildings in hot and humid climates. High-performance building systems and components were surveyed for buildings in the U.S., which were applicable for office buildings in hot and humid climates. This research developed a calibrated DOE-2.1e simulation model of a prototypical large office building. In addition, a Simplified Geometry DOE-2.1e (SGDOE-2.1e) model, was also developed, which used a simplified geometry to demonstrate the use of a proposed easy-to-use tool. The calibrated DOE-2.1e simulation model and the SGDOE-2.1e were compared and showed a good match with each. The SGDOE-2.1e model was then further modified based on the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 commercial building energy code. A code-compliant (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999) SGDOE-2.1e simulation model was then used as a baseline for the evaluation of the high-performance measures. A total of 14 high-performance measures were implemented including the energy savings, while the comfort level was maintained based on the ASHRAE comfort zone. In addition to the 14 high-performance measures, solar thermal and solar PV system analysis were integrated with the SGDOE-2.1e simulation model to further reduce the annual energy use. Finally, specifications of the proposed easy-to-use simulation tool were developed. This tool includes options to choose systems from the 14 high-performance measures and solar systems. The proposed easy-to-use systems selection tool can be used for new building practitioners and existing building owners as well to evaluate the performance of their new buildings compared to the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 code-compliant building, and to assess the feasibility of implementing high-performance measures to their existing buildings in terms of energy and cost savings.

O emprego da arquitetura bioclimática conduz à minimização dos impactos de uma intervenção no meio e à obtenção de uma relação mais harmoniosa entre paisagem e construção. Esta pesquisa evidencia o potencial da ventilação natural como recurso para resfriamento em climas quentes e úmidos, contribuindo para o aprofundamento no estudo de estratégias de projeto que auxiliem na maior integração do edifício com o clima e contexto locais. Analisa as estratégias de ventilação natural adotadas pelo arquiteto Severiano Porto em suas obras, dada a importância deste tipo de solução para obtenção de conforto térmico em clima tropical quente e úmido. Realiza-se por meio de discussão e análise de três obras do arquiteto, localizadas na cidade de Manaus-AM, e as diferentes soluções propostas, quanto à sua adeqüabilidade e eficiência. A análise se divide em duas etapas: primeiramente a análise qualitativa e descritiva, baseada em leitura de projeto, onde é verificada a incorporação de conceitos bioclimáticos nas edificações e são identificadas as soluções de ventilação natural propostas, através do desenho e caracterização dos sistemas encontrados; seguida da análise quantitativa, realizada através de pesquisa de campo e medições das variáveis ambientais temperatura, umidade relativa e velocidade do ar. A análise dos resultados foi realizada com base nos métodos de Mahoney e ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, assim como em alguns parâmetros obtidos em literatura especializada. Pôde-se identificar as estratégias de ventilação natural utilizadas, tanto cruzada como de efeito chaminé, avaliando-se detalhadamente seu desempenho nos três edifícios. A pesquisa contribui no aperfeiçoamento das soluções projetuais de ventilação natural, visando valorizar o uso de estratégias de energia passiva na arquitetura. Evidencia também a contribuição de Porto no desenvolvimento de uma arquitetura atenta a princípios bioclimáticos. / Bioclimatic architecture consists in minimizing the impacts of an intervention on the environment and obtaining a close relationship between building and nature. This research emphasizes the importance of natural ventilation as a cooling resource for hot and humid climates, contributing for the study of project strategies that adjust to local context and environment. Analyses the natural ventilation strategies used by the architect Severiano Porto in his buildings, since it is an important kind of solution to obtain thermal comfort in tropical hot and humid weather. It presents the discussion and analysis of three of his main works, placed in the city of Manaus, and the efficiency of the different solutions proposed. The analysis is divided in two steps: first a qualitative and descriptive analysis, based on project examination, where the incorporation of bioclimatic concepts in the buildings is verified and the natural ventilation solutions are identified; followed by a quantitative analysis, based on field studies and measurement of the variables temperature, humidity and air velocity. The result analysis was based on the Mahoney and ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 methods, and data obtained in specialized literature. Natural ventilation strategies could be identified, either cross as stack, allowing a detailed evaluation of performance of the three buildings. The research contributes on the improvement of the architectonic solutions on natural ventilation, on the purpose of valuing the use of passive energy strategies in architecture. Valorizes also Porto’s contribution to the development of an architecture that is attentive to bioclimatic principles.