Impact of Residential Building Layouts on microclimate in a High

Temperature and high humidity region

Yingjie Jiang 1, Changguang Wu 1,2,3,* and Mingjun Teng 1

1. College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan 430070, China; jyjvane@163.com (Y.J.); tengmj@mail.hzau.edu.cn (M.T.)
2. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, South China University of
Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
3. Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture in Central China, Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China
* Correspondence: wcg@mail.hzau.edu.cn

Article History
Published: 2 February 2020
Keywords: Existing Building, Retrofitting, Passive Design, Active Design, Zero Energy
Building, Cost-effectiveness

Abstract:
This paper overview the residential building layout for high temperature and high humidity
regions and insight the relation between residential building layout and outer wind and thermal
environment of Wuhan city. Six residential buildings are stimulated using ENVI numerical
model for determining distribution of wind speed and air temperature. The result shows the
enclosed type layout exhibited significantly better thermal comfort performance for most of
the day compared to the parallel type layout.
Keywords: ENVI

Introduction:
Natural ventilation and comfortable thermal environment plays vital role for the improvement
of livability of residential areas. From the previous study, thermal environment of parallel
layout was poor due to its lower building density in higher solar exposer. Main objective of
this paper to proposed typical residential building layout for high temperature and humidity
region, for numerical simulation models to compare building layouts its advantages and
disadvantages of microclimate in different building layout and propose measures to improve
microclimates in a high temperature and high humidity region.

Methodology:
Study area is taken in Wuhan city located in central China (30035’N, 114017’E). The
maximum temperature in the month of July is 30 °C and the relative humidity is above 75%.
Stimulation method is used for analysis of affects building layout due to high temperature and
high humidity. 3 x 3 building blocks were used of area 180 x 175 m area for stimulation.
Parallel type building layouts included aligned parallel layout, east–west staggered layout,
north–south staggered layout, parallel layout with central open space. Enclosed type layouts
included enclosed layout and enclosed layout with central open space. The widths (D) of the
four streets (ST) which divide the blocks were set as 20m and the model orientation was north–
south. The length (L) of each residential building was 40 m and the width (W) was 12 m. Sub-
high-rise buildings are typical and common in China; therefore, building height was set at 33
m (11 floors). Considering fire protection, sunshine conditions, and economical land use, the
longitudinal (L1) and lateral (L2) spacing’s were set at 32 and 16 m, respectively. ENVI –met
software is used to simulate the interaction between buildings and the surrounding
microclimate, wind circulation, solar access and energy exchange. The simulation area was
covered by a 179x179 grid with a horizontal resolution of 2 meters. In the vertical direction,
an equidistant grid was used, and the bottom grid was further divided into five sub-grids to
enhance simulation accuracy at ground level. The vertical range of the simulation area was at
least twice the height of the tallest building to ensure stability, resulting in 29 grids in the
vertical direction with a size of 3 meters (0.6 meters for the bottom grid). The stimulation time
was 6:00 local time on 21 July 2018 and duration was 42 h.

Findings:
Comparison was made between the six different building layout in terms of air flow,
temperature and thermal comfort at maximum temperature and humidity. Parallel building
layouts formed a ventilation corridor that facilitated airflow. Staggered layouts enhanced the
narrow pipe effect within the ventilation corridor, but improper arrangements could impede
airflow. While windward buildings obstructed high-temperature airflows, their cooling effect
was weaker compared to the warming effects caused by wind shadows and direct sunlight.

Conclusion:
From ENVI-met is used to stimulate wind and thermal characteristics of building. Enclosed
building layouts hindered air circulation, but they provided more shade, resulting in an
improved thermal environment. Overall, the enclosed type layout outperformed the parallel
type layout in terms of microclimate performance, with the north-south staggered layout also
performing well in certain scenarios. The paper provides valuable recommendation for
optimizing residential area planning by employing building layout strategies that promote
airflow, enhance shade, and improve the overall wind and thermal environment.

Critical Analysis:
The paper have provided in-depth study of characteristics of wind and thermal character of
building with respect to its layout

SRIJANA GOJA SHRESTHA (079MSEEB016)

The effect of building envelope on the thermal comfort and energy saving for
high rise buildings in hot-humid climate
SeyedehzahraMirrahimia,*, MohdFaridMohamed b, LimChinHawc, Nik LukmanNikIbrahim c,
WardahFatimahMohammadYusoff c, ArdalanAflaki a
College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan
430070, China; jyjvane@163.com (Y.J.); tengmj@mail.hzau.edu.cn (M.T.)

Article History
Received: 22 May 2014
Published: 18 September 2015
Keywords: Building envelope, High –rise building, Hot-humid climate, Energy efficiency

Abstract:
This paper explores the impact of building envelopes on energy consumption and thermal
performance in high-rise buildings in the Malaysian tropical climate. It emphasizes the
importance of indoor thermal conditions for occupant comfort, energy efficiency, productivity,
and well-being. The study highlights the potential of passive design methods for the building
envelope in hot-humid regions and helps in the selection of parameters such as climate,
building form, walls, roofs, glazing, ventilation, and shading devices. Researchers found the
thermal comfort zone for Malaysian residential buildings to be between 25°C and 31°C. The
paper provides recommendations to aid designers in creating high-rise buildings that are
energy-efficient and suitable for hot and humid climates.

Introduction:
This paper discusses the impact of building envelopes on energy consumption and thermal
comfort in high-rise buildings in the Malaysian tropical climate. It highlights the high energy
consumption in buildings, especially for cooling and heating purposes, and the need to regulate
temperatures due to increasing global temperatures and energy costs. The study emphasizes the
importance of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies in the building
sector. It reveals that Malaysian residential buildings contribute to about 19% of the country's
total energy consumption. The paper explores the potential of building envelope components
and passive design strategies to reduce energy consumption and achieve comfort in tropical
climates. It discusses the significance of shading devices, building orientation, and appropriate
materials for façades in reducing solar radiation and heat penetration. The building envelope is
categorized into opaque and transparent elements, which play a crucial role in protecting the
interior from external environmental conditions and providing thermal comfort. The paper also
addresses the concept of thermal comfort, influenced by climate, cultural factors, and occupant
behavior. It emphasizes the importance of creating a thermally comfortable environment
through proper building design and the utilization of daylighting for natural lighting, reducing
the reliance on electrical lighting and non-renewable energy resources. The geographical
location of Malaysia is at latitude 3.12 °N and longitude 101.55 °E. with high humidity and
temperature throughout the year. The paper provides an overview of thermal comfort studies
conducted in Malaysia, focusing on natural ventilated dwellings.
Methodology:
Study area is taken in Malaysia. The evaluation of the performance of building envelope is
first to be done. The cooling energy consumption in hot humid area can be reduce by limiting
the amount of heat gain using building envelope. Two envelope system are opaque system
that includes walls, roofs, floors and insulation. While transparent system include windows,
skylight and glass doors. The choice of construction material depend on thermal, moisture
and sound. A thorough case study of Malaysia have been compiled through data collection
method and literature review.

Findings:
A proper design and adequate location of the opening together with the appropriate number of
windows and doors can be the key factors to create the necessary wind for thermal comfort.
The single ventilation and night ventilation provided in wind ward sides reduce 30% of cooling.
The diverse shapes of roofs, the suitable range of tilt angle ought to be considered from 20° to
60°. The acceptable building layout shape that can be applied in the hot and humid region falls
in the ratio ranged between 1:1.7 and 1:3, where 1:1.7 was considered the optimum shape that
can be applied. West and south-west orientations fare poorly in terms of total hours below 28.6
°C at night, while east and south-east orientations are unfavorable during the day. North
orientation is considered as best for residence in Malaysia. In humid climate building materials
with low thermal mass such as timber and steel which absorb heat quickly but release it quickly.
Well insulated and shaded thermal mass designs can lower night time temperatures by 3–4 °C
in high humid areas with modest diurnal ranges. From the study, about 25– 30 mm of insulation
material is used in a 50 cm-thick wall to preferable thickness of wall insulation. In Malaysia,
flat roofs are not suitable because of possible leaking in times of heavy rain as well as cracking
due to contraction and expansion, regardless of whether the roofs are made of concrete with or
without a false ceiling. On tropical climate, pitched or sloping roofs specially designed to
withstand the frequent sudden tropical showers and violent winds. Windows in tropical
climates should be large and can be fully opened, with identical inlets on opposite walls for
cross-ventilation. In Malaysia, the most frequently used are 6 mm thick glass with U-value of
5.6 W/m2 K, shading coefficient between 0.4 and 0.96, and visible transmittance from 20–
80%. In Malaysia, a study showed that longer shading devices result in greater energy savings
for both annual and peak cooling loads. A 30 cm-deep horizontal shading device can save
between 2.62% and 3.24% of the energy cooling load, while a 60 cm depth can save 5.85-
7.06% of the cooling load.

Conclusion:
In hot and humid climates like Malaysia, the building envelope is a crucial design parameter
for managing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in high-rise buildings. Studies have shown
that various components of the building envelope, such as shading devices, walls, roofs,
glazing, and insulation, significantly impact energy consumption and cooling. The shape of the
building also affects energy usage. Passive design strategies have demonstrated significant
energy savings in high-rise buildings. To effectively implement passive design strategies in hot
and humid climates, careful consideration of the thermal performance of building envelope
components, such as window-to-wall ratio, window materials, and shading devices, is
necessary to reduce reliance on mechanical systems.
Critical Analysis:
The paper was justifiable to the in depth study of effect of building envelope on the thermal
comfort in Malaysia. This paper covers suitable design parameters that is to consider to design
building in hot and humid climate of Malaysia.

SRIJANA GOJA SHRESTHA (079MSEEB016)

Sustainability Features of Iran’s Vernacular Architecture: A Comparative
Study between the Architecture of Hot–Arid and Hot–Arid–Windy Regions
Sadra Sahebzadeh 1,*, Abolfazl Heidari 2, Hamed Kamelnia 3 and Abolfazl Baghbani 4

Article History
Received: 6 April 2017
Published: 26 April 2017
Keywords: sustainability; vernacular architecture; context; adaptation; Iran; Yazd; Sistan

Abstract:
This paper presents surveys of two region, one hot arid and hot arid- windy in Iran. The survey
studied various elements, such as fabric and orientation, sidewalks, facades, materials,
entrances, courtyards, basements and cellars, porches, roofs, wind-catchers, and openings. It
identified the connections between different contextual specifications and construction aspects,
highlighting their impact on the overall character of the architecture in two regions. These
findings can serve as guidelines for future designs and constructions.

Introduction:
Iran's traditional architecture is predominantly shaped by vernacular architecture, which has a
history of nearly 8000 years. Vernacular architecture, like any other form of architecture, is
intricately connected to its local context. Consequently, Iranian vernacular architects and
masons have developed diverse solutions and techniques to adapt to the country's varied
climatic conditions. Numerous studies have been done on different aspects of Iran’s hot-arid
region’s vernacular architecture in cities like Yazd and Kashan

Methodology:
Comprehensive literature review on Iran’s vernacular architecture concentrating on hot-arid
climate regions. A series of field studies and documentation among 32 sample houses across
Sistan region. Yazd (31.8974°N, 54.3569°E) is located in the central plateau of Iran which
has max summer temperature of 400C and below 00C in winter. Sistan region (31.032◦N,
61.490◦E) is located in the southeast of Iran having hot – arid climate with an annual average
precipitation of 55 mm occurring mainly in winter (December to February) while its
evaporation exceeds ~4000 mm/year as a result of high temperatures and frequent winds.

Findings:
Orientation of the street is east to west to create the most shadow whereas secondary alleys are
narrow, irregular, curved. In a typical house in Yazd, the long axis is rotated 30 degrees
clockwise from the north, and the smaller southern side of the courtyard faces Mecca (Qibla),
which greatly influences the city's orientation whereas orientation in Sistan is decided by
prevalent wind direction. In Yazd, the streets and sidewalks are curved, narrow canals with an
east-west direction, surrounded by high adobe walls to maximize shadow coverage and protect
against summer heat and sunlight. In Sistan, sidewalks are straighter and parallel to the
prevalent wind direction, allowing wind penetration. In Yazd, external facades are often
blocked by neighboring houses to minimize direct sunlight and hot winds. Openings are
limited, typically located at higher parts of the walls, with the entrance door being the main
access point to the outside. The walls in both regions are made of adobe, brick, and mud without
additional insulation, resulting in light-colored exterior walls that reflect sunlight and reduce
indoor temperatures. Yazd's walls are smooth to maximize light reflection, while Sistan's
facades have more openings and may be padded with thatch for increased thermal resistance.
Thick walls is one of the mostly used of from 40cm in south-facing fronts to 100cm in the
exterior fronts. Entrance leading to vestibules to avoid harsh climate of outside. Almost 90%
of Yazd vernacular houses have central courtyards. In Yazd, two underground spaces exist:
basements and cellars. Basements have openings towards yards, while cellars are completely
underground with no external openings. These underground spaces are built to mitigate high
day/night and summer/winter temperature. In both Yazd and Sistan, there are semi-open spaces
called Eyvan and Talar (Yazd) and Evon (Sistan) of which are north-facing and provide shaded
areas for dwellers to experience comfort on hot summer days. Due to low precipitation and
lack of structural timber in hot-arid climates, both Yazd and Sistan use domes and vaults as
roof structures because they receive less direct sunlight, create airflow, are exposed to wind
flow, allow hot air to rise, have a larger surface area for thermal exchange. Openings are
primarily located on the higher parts of walls facing the central courtyards

Conclusion:
Vernacular architecture in hot-arid and hot-arid-windy regions of Iran has successfully adapted
to the context through sustainable strategies. Builders utilize limited resources to achieve
maximum comfort, resulting in differences in architectural elements between regions while
maintaining similar underlying principles. Both architectures have provided a comfortable
living environment for generations, leading native people to continue building in the same way.
The success of vernacular architecture in adapting to the context and providing comfort can
serve as a valuable lesson for future designs and constructions.

Critical Analysis:
The paper was justifiable to the in depth study of vernacular architecture of Iran hot and arid
climate. Details of each and every architecture forms and element and their importance as
climate wise is broadly describe.

SRIJANA GOJA SHRESTHA (079MSEEB016)

Proposed Journal Title: Impact of humidity in building design

Objective

 To analyze the impact of low and high humidity building design

 To compare the modern and vernacular architecture on the basis of
humidity

Selected journal

1. The effect of building envelope on the thermal comfort and energy saving
for high rise buildings in hot-humid climate
2. Housing design in relation to environmental comfort- a comparison of the
traditional Malay house and housing
3. Impact of Residential Building Layouts on microclimate in a High
Temperature and high humidity region
4. Traditional solutions in low energy buildings of hot-arid regions of Iran
5. Sustainability Features of Iran’s Vernacular Architecture: A Comparative
Study between the Architecture of Hot–Arid and Hot–Arid–Windy
Regions