PREDICTING IMPROVED MICRO CLIMATE WITH REFLECTIVE

ROOFS AND ITS IMPACT ON COOLING LOADS OF A TYPICAL

COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN BENGALURU, INDIA

D E V S Kiran Kumar, MinniSastry

Centre for Research on Sustainable Building Science, The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI) Southern Regional Centre, Bengaluru, India; e-mail d.kumar@teri.res.in

There were several studies carried out in the recent past proving the existence of heat islands
in many of the developing Asian cities. The temperature rise in urban areas influence the
peak air conditioning energy consumption during hot days and thus increase the electricity
demand of the entire city. Most of the cities in India face deficit in energy supply as the gap
between demand and supply go up by almost 15 to 20% during summers. Local bodies
should actively involve for implementing cool roofs for all new buildings in order to reduce
the city electricity demand and to have a control on frequent power cuts.
The paper highlights a new methodology for the evaluation of urban environment and the
impact of improved micro climate at building level cooling load demand. The study involves
both experimental as well as simulation studies. Experimental part highlights the air
temperature monitoring at city centre as well as city outskirts, along with the thermal
performance of the reflective coatings. ENVI-met tool was used for modelling two urban
locations in the city. Measured locations have been modelled in ENVI-met to predict the air
temperatures. There is a good correlation (R2= 0.96) found between measured and simulated
data. Output data of these simulations is used to develop weather file format that is
compatible for VisDOE.

A Box type building model for commercial office space has been developed for hourly
energy simulation in Vis DOE. The updated weather files generated using the ENVImet
output has been used for these simulations. This paper discusses the potential of cooling load
reduction that is possible due to improved micro climates with the reflective roofs. It is
observed that about 1.5⁰C reduction in daily maximum temperature possible with improved
micro climate due to reflective roofs. Also the study shows that there is almost 16.8%
potential of peak load reduction possible due to the impact of reflective roofs.
Keywords: Heat Islands, Improved micro climate, reflective roofs, cooling load reduction

INTRODUCTION

Increase in population and consequent urbanisation leads to upsurge in urban built-up

density. Buildings constructed with materials that absorb heat and emit back into atmosphere
cause rise in temperatures. Due to higher built-up density at the core of an urban area and less
open area and vegetation, it results in higher temperature than the surrounding suburban/ rural
area and this phenomenon is known as Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The adverse effects
of UHI include increase thermal discomfort (both indoor and outdoor) of people and thus
results in higher energy consumption in air conditioned buildings.
The UHI issue is very prominent in many of the developing tropical cities of Asia where the
ambient air temperatures and solar radiation intensities are normally high. Studies carried out

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in the tropical cities of Asia like Tokyo, Hongkong, Singapore, Colombo, New Delhi, Pune
and Chennai have confirmed the existence of heat island due to the rapid growth of these
cities [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. It is estimated that 3 to 8 % higher electricity demand in
cities with populations greater than 1, 00,000 is used to confront the heat due to heat island
effect [8]. Most of the cities in India face deficit in energy supply as the gap between demand
and supply go up by 15-20% during summers. Although the issues of UHI are well
documented in India, a very few mitigation measures have been implemented yet.
Implementation of Urban Heat Island (UHI) mitigation measures for various urban surfaces
will reduce the ambient air temperatures. Energy savings in air conditioned buildings will
possible due to improved micro climate around the buildings. ECO III- Cool Roof is one of
the prevalent projects that are carried out in India addressing this issue. Simulations studies
carried out as part of the project in Hyderabad [9] estimated maximum temperature reduction
up to 2.5○C due to cool roofs. The study also highlighted that about 16% savings in annual
cooling demand possible with the use high albedo paints over the buildings. The studies
carried by Abkari & Konopacki[10] show upto 18-19% total energy savings are possible
because of the improved micro climate due to high albedo roofs. These studies imply a sense
to encourage passive cooling techniques and improve indoor conditions when the
microclimate around the building is improved. With this background, the energy saving
potential using cool roofs in context of the city of Bengaluru has been studied and presented
in this paper.

METHODOLOGY
The study involves field experiments and use of simulation software to predict Urban Heat
Island (UHI) in built environments, impact of mitigation measures to reduce UHI and its
impact on reduction of building cooling demand has been established.
In the first phase, field experiments were carried out in Bengalurue to quantify urban heat
island in the city. Field experiments were also carried out in locations where, UHI mitigation
design measures were adopted. Thermohygro data loggers were used to monitor air
temperature and relative humidity. Thermal infrared gun was used to take instantaneous
surface temperature readings. The second activity was to use ENVImet software tool that can
analyse urban microclimates. The software tool was validated for its results with the
measured data from field experiments. The calibrated models were later used to carry out
parametric simulations to study the impact of UHI mitigation measures on urban
microclimate. Output data of these simulations was used to develop weather file format that
is compatible for building simulation tools.
Finally, hourly energy simulation tool, VisDOE , was used to quantify the impact of UHI
mitigation measures at building level and predict reduction in cooling demand of typical
commercial building in Bengaluru. In this activity, using the ENVImet output for reflective
roof modified Bengaluru weather file was used in VisDOE. Figure1 summarises the
methodology adopted in the research project.

952 CISBAT 2013 - September 4-6, 2013 - Lausanne, Switzerland

Fig. 1 Methodology followed to assess the impact of UHI mitigation strategies

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
Field studies were carried out for air temperature monitoring at one hour interval at
Commercial Street (dense city centre) and Kodathi (sub urban area) for about one week
during February. Higher air temperatures are recorded in case of Commercial Street when
compared with Kodathi. Maximum of 5.3 degC observed between the two sites during the
night. The difference in daily mean air temperature during the measured period (table 1)
varies between 0.8 and 2 degC, where the commercial street remains at higher temperatures
on all the days. Night temperatures at Commercial Street increase significantly as a result of
the heat absorbed by the buildings during the day time. Kodathi gets cooled down drastically
due to lesser built up and more vegetation. This, along with monitoring results at other
locations confirms and proves the existence of heat island at the centre of the city where
dense development and less vegetation is present.
Following to these studies, hourly measurements are carried out for reflective roofs at TERI
Southern regional centre (TERI SRC). Surface temperatures (over and under the deck) are
taken instantaneously at 1 hour interval during the daytime. It is observed that the under deck
surface temperature for un coated and mass RCC roof remains constant at 29○C throughout
the day. However, it got reduced from 29○C to 26○C after white coat is applied over it. It is
very clearly noticed that difference in the average under deck and over deck surface
temperature is 2.8degC and 16 degC for RCC mass roof with white coating, and conventional
RCC roof respectively. Thus s significant reduction in heat flux is observed in case of coated
RCC mass roof compared with the uncoated RCC roof.

Table 1 Daily mean air temperatures recorded at Commercial street and Kodathi

Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4 Day5 Day6 Day7

Kodathi 24.8 23.5 23.6 24.5 24.8 23.8 23.3
Mean Air
Temperature Commercial St. 25.6 24.7 25.1 26 26.3 25.6 25.3
Difference 0.8 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.8 2

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SIMULATION STUDIES
It is essential to compare the measurements with existing urban micro climatic models in
order to carryout various parametric simulations. The ENVI-met tool which is used in this
study is basically a three dimensional non- hydrostatic micro climate model for urban built
environments. The tool helps to understand various UHI mitigation strategies and their levels
of impact on the surroundings.
The hourly output data during the simulation period was compared with the measured data.
Though the simulated data was found lower than the measured, a good correlation (R2= 0.96
for Kodathi, R2= 0.89 for Commercial street) was found. Thus the validity of ENVImet was
confirmed to carry out the work. Simulation results of ENVI-met provide minimum,
maximum and average temperatures possible in the studied area. When, ENVI-met
predictions for Commercial Street are compared with the field monitored data, minimum
temperatures were found similar with an average difference of +0.6 ○C. As the difference
between the measured and simulated model is minimal, the software model is hence
calibrated and used for further analysis.

The calibrated ENVI-met model for Commercial Street is used to carryout parametric
simulations, where the roof type and its thermal properties are modified. High reflective roof
is considered for all the buildings in the area of extent considered for ENVI-met model.
Output data of these simulations was used to develop weather file format that is compatible
for building simulation tools. Table 2 shows the thermal properties considered for these
simulations. It is observed that there is 1.50C reduction in peak air temperatures possible with
reflective roof when compared to the existing case. Figure 2 shows hourly air temperatures
observed in ENVI-met for reflective roof in comparison with the existing (base case)
scenario.

Table2. Input parameters considered for parametric simulations

Parameter High reflective roof case
Heat Transmittance (U-Value) of roof 3.74W/m2K
Reflectance of roof 0.9
Reflectance of wall 0.8
Simulation time 18.02.2012 & 06:00:00
Simulation interval and duration 1hr & 24hrs
Wind speed & Direction 3 m/s & SW
Ambient Temperature 17.9○C
Relative Humidity 85.8%
Indoor Building Temperature 19.9○C

Studies are carried out to observe cooling load patterns for a typical commercial building in
commercial street area with the improved micro climate using VisDOE, a widely used and
accepted commercial building energy analysis program. Providing a new weather data for
modified micro climate was the most important in this task. Predicted ambient air
temperatures from ENVI-met for reflective case is replaced in the weather file format
(TMY2) that is currently available for Bengaluru. Thus, the modified weather data is
converted in to the format that is readable for VisDOE tool. Table 3 shows the input data that
is considered for the VisDOE simulations. Simulation results show that about 16.9% of peak
cooling load reduction is possible in case of reflective roof.

954 CISBAT 2013 - September 4-6, 2013 - Lausanne, Switzerland

Figure2. Hourly air temperatures observed in ENVI-met for reflective roofs in comparison
with the existing (basecase) scenario

Table 3. Input data considered for VisDOE simulations

Parameter Base Case Reflective Roof
Building Type Commercial Office Commercial Office
Zone Area 40000ft2 40000Sft2
Height 10ft 10 ft
Lighting power density 1.4 W /ft2 1.4 W /ft2
Equipment power density 0.75 W /ft2 0.75 W /ft2
Occupants 275 ft2 / person 275 ft2 / person
Occupancy Schedule 8 hours, 5 days a week 8 hours, 5 days a week
External wall Uninsulated 230mm Brick Uninsulated 230mm Brick
Wall Wall
External Roof Uninsulated 150mm RCC Uninsulated 150mm RCC
Roof Roof with reflective coat
(albedo 0.9)
Glazing Specification 6mm clear glass 6mm clear glass

It is observed from the hourly load profile that the load reduction is possible throughout the
day and it is maximum at 3PM when maximum temperature is recorded. Similar observations
were made during the experimental studies where the reduction in heat flux was maximum in
case of reflective white roof. Thus, it is clearly understood the impact of heat island
mitigation options in reducing the cooling demand of air conditioned buildings.

CONCLUSIONS
Presence of heat island is thus clearly evident from the profile of the mean air temperature
where, Commercial Street at centre of city with high development is 1.5degC higher than
Kodathi which is located in the outskirts of Bangalore. The heat flux reduction incase of
reflective white roofs on reduction of heat islands is also understood. It is observed that there
is 1.5○C reduction in peak air temperatures possible with reflective roof when compared
existing building scenario. It is clearly noted that about 16.9% of peak cooling load reduction
is possible in case of reflective roof. It is thus understood the combined impact of improved
micro climate and high albedo roofs. These studies encourage improvement of micro climate
as a passive strategy to reduce the building loads and hence the methodology presented in this
paper may be adopted to predict the same.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research work presented in this paper was carried out with the grant of 13th round RRC
by South Asian Network of Economic Research Institutes (SANEI), Bangladesh.

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