Energy performance of windows under climate change in Turkey

Abstract

Windows are one of the thermally weakest parts of a building envelope and climate change is becoming an increasingly important parameter in evaluating the energy performance of buildings. This study investigated the effect of various window configurations on the energy behaviour of school buildings in three cities in Turkey based on climate change, orientation, glazing type and window size. Detailed parametric simulations were used and the results were compared in accordance with ISO 18292. The simulations indicate that the contribution of windows to cooling loads is highest when the value of the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is high and its contribution increases due to climate change. The U-value of glazing is not as significant as the value of the SHGC for cooling. Orientation and window size are other important parameters that affect the energy performance of windows. In addition, in terms of energy costs and performance, it is more efficient for a building to be orientated in south or north directions.