Analysis of the rule of window-to-wall ratio on energy demand of residential buildings in different locations in China

Ruihua Ma; Ruijiang Ma; Enshen Long

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12803

Analysis of the rule of window-to-wall ratio on energy demand of residential buildings in different locations in China

Heliyon. 2023 Jan 4;9(1):e12803. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12803. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Ruihua Ma¹, Ruijiang Ma², Enshen Long³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Panzhihua College, Panzhihua, 617000, PR China.
² Energy Conservation Research Center, China Construction Engineering Industrial Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Beijing, 101300, PR China.
³ School of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, PR China.

Abstract

Building energy demands are influenced by the window-to-wall ratio (WWR). The impact of the WWR on the energy demand in the same area has been researched by software. However, the impact of the WWR on the energy demand of buildings in different locations of China has not been investigated using the energy balance equation. The equation for the indoor temperature variation under various internal and external disturbances was provided in this study. The relationship between parameters A and B and the change in indoor temperature was proven. China's Harbin, Beijing, and Chengdu air-conditioning and heating loads, as well as the impact of changing WWR on the rate of energy savings for air-conditioning and heating energy demand, were studied. After investigating the changes in the cooling and heating loads in various cities under various WWRs, the suitable relationship between the cooling and heating loads and the WWR of three urban units was discovered. The findings indicated that despite the three cities' various climates and the diverse energy demands for air conditioning and heating in each city, with the same change in the WWR of urban buildings, the change rate of the air conditioning and heating loads in each city was near. Meanwhile, the heating and cooling loads were linear with WWR.

Keywords: Amount of energy saving; Energy demand; Energy-saving ratio; WWR.