The exploration of energy efficient material for shading devices in tropical climates

Abstract

In recent years, extreme weather events lead to reducing the supply of renewable energy sources, which contributes to the global energy crisis. Due to the long hours and high intensity of solar radiation during the day, buildings require a large amount of energy to lower the indoor air temperature in Malaysia. Shading devices are an important strategy for reducing building cooling loads. The form and materials of shading devices are two crucial factors that affect their effectiveness. This study aims to explore the potential of construction materials used for shading devices in improving the energy efficiency of these devices through a case study conducted in a northwest-facing room located on the campus of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia. To explore energy-efficient materials for shading devices, the building can be modelled using EnergyPlus building simulation software and OpenStudio software. By employing these tools, the indoor air temperature can be calculated for different materials of shading devices during the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice. The indoor air temperature can be reduced by up to 2.8 ºC when using concrete shading devices compared with no shading devices. The results indicate that implementing shading devices in tropical regions can significantly reduce indoor air temperatures and improve energy efficiency. However, among the three commonly used materials for shading devices in Malaysia, their impact on enhancing energy efficiency is minimal, with wood resulting in the lowest indoor air temperatures.