Surveying and Built Environment Vol 18 (2), 17-32 December 2007 ISSN 1816-9554

Double–Skin Facades for Hong Kong

Matthias Haase¹ and Felix Wong and Alex Amato

ABSTRACT
There is a need for a sustainable development in Hong Kong’s built environment. One of the most
significant technologies for energy savings in a building is the facade. Double-skin facade (DSF)
technology provides several advantages. However, little work has been done on the behaviour
of DSFs in hot and humid climates. In this paper DSFs are first defined and classified, and an
explanation of the different airflow concepts used is given. The paper then describes a study
of six recently-completed buildings incorporating DSFs in Hong Kong. The features of these
buildings were collated and analysed, and from this information three different types of DSF
were modelled. These models were used to run a dynamic building simulation with the software
package VisualDOE that provides detailed overall yearly energy consumption. The results show
that considerable energy consumption savings (up to 9.18%) are possible. But in order to link the
airflow in the cavity to the HVAC-system further research has to be conducted.

Keywords
Airflow
Building simulation
Energy consumption
Performance
VisualDOE

1
SINTEF Building and Infrastructure Buildings
Alfred Getz vei 3
NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway
Tel: (47) 92260501
Fax: (47) 73598285
email: [email protected]

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 Double–Skin Facades for Hong Kong

INTRODUCTION New concepts have already been tested

in a number of European countries with a
There is a need to promote sustainable moderate to cold climate. These concepts
d e v e l o p m e n t i n H o n g K o n g ’s b u i l t have taken into account outdoor conditions
environment (Hui 2000). 53% of energy and have tried to create a climate-responsive
consumed in Hong Kong accounts for building (Goulding et al. 1992; Wigginton
buildings (EMSD 2005b). 18% is consumed 1996). Advanced facade technologies have
by residential buildings and 36% is consumed already been developed for the top-end
by commercial buildings as shown in Fig 1. market sector of office buildings (Wigginton
The transportation sector accounts for another 2002).
36% and the industry sector consumes 11%
energy. The reduction of energy consumption One of the most important recent
is seen as a main issue for sustainable developments in facade design is the
development (CEC 2001; UNCED 1997). emergence of double-skin facade (DSF)
technology. DSFs offer several advantages
One of the best ways of saving energy in a (Oesterle et al. 2001). They provide an
building is by carefully designing its facade. additional layer that helps to reduce the
Architects working in collaboration with acoustic impact on a building. Their cavities
engineers have already begun to take an provide a space for positioning advanced
energy-responsible approach to the design sunshading devices that reduce heat gain
of building facades, as a building’s facade but allow in natural daylight (von Grabe
contributes both to its embodied energy 2002). Allowing natural daylight to be
and operating energy (Amato 1996; Karsai filtered into a building for lighting appears
1997). Recent advances in the fields of to reduce the heat load for artificial lighting
materials, manufacturing and thermo sciences on air conditioning (Bodart 2002; Grimme
have been used in facade design and have 1999). Finally, the buoyancy flow in DSF
been applied both in the construction of cavities may reduce solar heat gain and
new buildings, in the retrofit or rehabilitation also supports HVAC (heating, ventilation and
of existing buildings and in the efficient air-conditioning) systems. This can help to
operation of buildings (Compagno 2002). minimize the size of such systems, thereby

Figure 1: Energy consumption in Hong Kong (EMSD 2005b)

120000

100000

80000
End-use Energy [TJ]

Transport
Industry
60000
Residential building
Commercial building
40000

20000

0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

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 Surveying and Built Environment Vol 18 (2), 17-32 December 2007 ISSN 1816-9554

reducing the building’s energy consumption concepts it is impor tant to note that all
(Andersen 2003). main types of double-skin facades can be
combined with both types of ventilation and
Classification of double-skin all types of airflow concepts. This results in a
facades (DSFs) great variety of double-skin facades.
For the purposes of this paper it would
Figure 3 illustrates the dif ferent air flow
be helpful to agree on a consolidated
concepts that can be applied to double-skin
classification of DSFs (Parkin 2004). Figure 2
facades. More recently, double-skin facades
gives an overview of the main characteristics
have been developed that act as climate
often used when describing the various
responsive elements with hybrid ventilation
features of DSFs.
(natural and mechanical) concepts with a
Airflow concepts
possibility to change the airflow concept due
to different weather conditions in different
When looking at the various airflow seasons (IEA 2002).

Figure 2: Classification of double-skin facades

Figure 3: Airflow concepts of double-skin facades

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 Double–Skin Facades for Hong Kong

However, little work has been done on the (4) Monitoring of the data for at least a
behaviour of double-skin facades in hot and whole year.
humid climates (Rajapaksha et al. 2003).
Facades designed for use in a moderate SURVEY OF EXISTING DSF
to cold climate cannot simply be applied BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG
without modification to a different environment.
The seasonal and daily climate in terms of A survey of buildings in Hong Kong
mean temperature, humidity and wind speed identified the following six recently-
distribution in Hong Kong is different from the completed buildings with double-skin
more moderate climate found in European facades:
countries. A new approach has to take the
climatic factors into account to find out if (1) Dragonair/CNAC Building (Chek Lap
a double-skin facade can help to reduce Kok International Airport);
energy consumption in buildings in a hot and
(2) Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building,
humid climate (Hui and Cheung 1997). The
The University of Hong Kong (Hong
complexity of the new concept and technology
Kong Island);
requires a careful and responsible planning.
This may be done by simulation of the (3) Building 5, Hong Kong Science Park (Sha
thermal behaviour and comparison with the Tin);
performance of existing buildings.
(4) Sha Tin Government Offices Building (Sha
Tin);
SURVEY AND MODELLING
(5) 1 Peking Road (Kowloon); and
This study sought to identify the advantages
and disadvantages of double-skin facades (6) Headquarters Building, Electrical and
in a hot and humid climate by considering Mechanical Services Department (EMSD)
the performance of a number of buildings in (Kowloon).
Hong Kong already fitted with double-skin
facades and modelling their performance. Further details of each of these building
projects (name, date of completion,
The complete study involves the following four number of storeys, and GFA), the architect,
steps: project management, contractor, engineers
(structural, M&E, and facade), and quantity
(1) Collection of data on construction details surveyor are provided in Table 1.
(survey).
Table 2 gives the classification characteristics.
(2) Modelling of the data (using a suitable Three projects used a cavity with natural
software package) to simulate building ventilation, while the other three used a cavity
energy consumption in buildings fitted with mechanical ventilation. Accordingly,
with DSFs under different circumstances. the projects with naturally ventilated cavities
used an external air curtain while the projects
(3) Analysis of the energy performance of the with mechanically ventilated cavities used
different buildings and determination of an internal air curtain as an airflow concept
design details. realized in box-window facades.

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 Table 1: List of projects in HK using DSFs
:GHRK 2OYZULVXUPKIZYOT.1[YOTM*9,Y

Name of Dragonair/CNAC Kadoorie Biological Building 5, Hong Sha Tin Government 1 Peking Road EMSD Headquarters
project Building Sciences Building Kong Science Park Offices Building

Client Dragonair & CNAC The University of Hong Kong Science HKSAR Government Glorious Sun Secretary for
(Group) Hong Kong and Technology Parks Holdings Ltd Environment, HKSAR,
Corporation, HKSAR (1) Transport and Works / EMSD (2)

Architect Wong Tung & Leigh & Orange Simon Kwan & Chan Kan & Rocco Design Limited ASD (3)
Partners Ltd Associates Ltd. Associates Ltd.
Project Ove Arup & - ASD (3) Hong Kong DTZ Debenham ASD (3)
management Partners and CITIC Construction Holding Ltd Tie Leung
Project Mangmt.

Contractor AMEC-Hong Kong Laing-Hip Hing Joint Dickson Construction Hong Kong Gammon Skanska Ltd China State
Construction Co Ltd Venture Co Ltd Construction Holding Ltd Construction Engineering
Joint Venture (Hong Kong) Limited

Structural Maunsell Ove Arup & Partners ASD (3) - WMKY Ltd ASD (3)
engineer Consultants Asia

M&E J Roger Preston Ltd Parsons Brinckerhoff ASD (3) Parson Brinckerhoff J. Roger Preston Ltd ASD (3)
engineer (Asia) Ltd. (Asia) Ltd.

Facade MFT(HK) Ltd (4) Josef Gartner & Co (HK) - Permasteelisa Permasteelisa
technology Hong Kong Ltd Hong Kong Ltd

Quantity Davis Langdon & Davis Langdon & ASD (3) - Levett & Bailey ASD (3)
surveyor Seah (HK) Seah (HK)

Year of 2002 2000 2002 2001 2003 2004

completion

Number of 6 (with 5 storeys DSF) 10 8 19 (with 16 storeys DSF) 29 (with 14 storeys DSF) 8 (with 2 storeys DSF)
storeys

GFA in sq m 32,500 13,912 10,400 33,800 12,200 81,800

Notes: (1) In cooperation with Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR

(2) EMSD = Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR
(3) ASD = Architectural Service Department, HKSAR
(4) MFT = Meinhardt Facade Technology

Table 2: Classification of DSFs in HK projects

Project Main type of facade Cavity ventilation Airflow concept

DragonAir/CNAC Building corridor natural external air curtain
Kadoorie Biological Sciences
Building corridor natural external air curtain
Building 5, Hong Kong
Science Park multi-storey natural external air curtain
Sha Tin Government Offices
Building box-window mechanical internal air curtain
1 Peking Road box-window mechanical internal air curtain
Surveying and Built Environment Vol 18 (2), 17-32 December 2007 ISSN 1816-9554

EMSD Headquarters box-window mechanical internal air curtain

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 Double–Skin Facades for Hong Kong

Dragonair/CNAC Building Building 5, Hong Kong Science Park

The Dragonair/CNAC Building at Chek Lap Building 5, Hong Kong Science Park, was
Kok International Airport was built by Wong built by Simon Kwan & Associates and
Tung & Partners and completed in 2002. completed in 2002. The management of the
Meinhardt Facade Engineering did the facade Science and Technology Park (in Sha Tin)
engineering. The problem of aircraft noise has encouraged architects to express the
was addressed by the adoption of a double- innovative and forward looking concept of the
skin cavity wall system which provides 60 Science Park in the building design of several
dBa of sound attenuation. A 800 mm cavity buildings.
separates the 19 mm thick external layer of
fully-tempered glass and the inner layer, which The building envelope is designed for
is an insulated low E coated unit. energy efficient and environmentally sensitive
treatment. The doubleskin facade system on the
The cavity wall system not only answers the west elevation helps to shield traffic noise from
engineers’ requirements, but also avoids Tolo Highway and reduce solar heat gain,
condensation problems through its use of while the double-glazed curtain wall system,
acoustic baffles to ventilate the system. The sun shading devices and the metal roof also
cavity also facilitates maintenance and enhance the building’s thermal and acoustic
improves the building’s thermal performance, performance. Due to its close proximity to Tolo
(http://www.building.com.hk/feature/ Highway, clear glass was used throughout the
11_00dragon.htm). facade to help to reduce the amount of glare
that could affect passing motorists. BIPV panels
It was necessary to add fire dampers to the used on the outer skin of the west facade
double-skin facade, so that the facade cannot and roof canopy not only contribute to the
take advantage of the stack effect in this 6 energy efficiency of the building, but also give
level building with 5 level DSF. the building its unique character. Clerestory
glazing was specified for the building to
present a transparent image in line with the
Figure 4: Dragonair/CNAC Building rest of Science Park Phase 1 and to reduce the
apparent bulk of the building (Youngs 2003).

Figure 5: Building 5, Hong Kong

Science Park

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 Surveying and Built Environment Vol 18 (2), 17-32 December 2007 ISSN 1816-9554

Building 5 has parts of its BIPV (building • It enables a more flexible interior for the
integrated photovoltaic) integrated in the laboratories to be designed.
double-skin facade. The double-skin facade • It enables maintenance work to be
is open to all four sides allowing free airflow carried out without disturbing laboratory
in a 2000mm cavity. In addition the design users and lessens the likelihood that the
of the glass modules shows gaps of app. laboratories will become contaminated.
40 mm. This should influence the pressure • Access to the building services
difference and therefore the buoyancy flow in installations through external ducts and
the cavity. staircases enhances the security of the
laboratories.
Kadoorie Biological Sciences • The fritted glass used for the screen wall
Building serves to limit solar radiation while the
external services zone between the two
The University of Hong Kong’s Kadoorie layers of glazing acts as a stack which
Biological Sciences Building was built by Leigh channels hot air upwards for discharge
& Orange and completed in 2000. into the air, thus reducing the building’s
solar heat gain.
The building was designed with seven key • An open metal grille installed at each
issues in mind, namely: functionality, flexibility, floor allows free air circulation while
safety, energy ef ficiency, sustainability, serving as walkways for maintenance
lifetime economy, buildability and ease of access.
maintenance. • Heat gain is further reduced by locating
heat emitting equipment in the external
All these considerations are reflected in all ser vices zone outside the building,
aspects of the building’s design, particularly where they release their heat into the
the facade. The Kadoorie Biological void rather than the interior (http://
Sciences Building is the first building w w w. b u i l d i n g . c o m . h k / f e a t u r e /
in Hong Kong to fully exploit the green 06_00kadoorie.htm).
possibilities of a second skin: an external
glazed screen which is 2.5 m away from
the external wall.
Figure 6: Kadoorie Biological
The building is clad in a combination of silver Sciences Building - The
grey ceramic tiles and glass and steel double University of Hong Kong
skin. The north and south facades are clad in
ceramic tiles and the windows are protected
by sunshading devices. External maintenance
walkways surround the building at each floor
level, providing safe and easy access for
maintenance personnel.

The east and west facades are clad in a

double-skin curtain wall which acts as a screen
for various building ser vices installations
distributed around the exterior of the building.
Placing these installations on the exterior of the
building has three main advantages:

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Sha Tin Government Offices Building It is claimed that the double glazing heat return
system applied, the overall OTTV as well as
The Sha Tin Government Offices Building
the energy consumption by air-conditioning
was built by the Architectural Ser vices
system are comparatively lower than other
Department (ASD) and completed in
traditionally designed buildings (www.hk-
2002.
beam.org).
The envelope of the building was purpose-
The windows can be opened individually
designed to reduce solar heat gains and
and an additional second layer of glazing
maximize daylighting penetration in the
has been placed on the inside of the
premises. On north side where minimum
window to create a double-skin facade.
direct solar load is to be suffered, normal
This technology is called ‘Airflow window’
single glazed curtain wall system is applied.
and operates usually with a 200mm cavity.
The drawing on the left side indicates the
Although there is a second layer of glass in
design of Vertical fins on the two edges of
the facade implemented it does not affect
the building. The concrete fins are purposely
the solar heat gain since the cavity of the
designed to block the direct sunlight from
double-skin is connected to the interior,
entering the building. Such installation is
HVAC unit respectively. Incoming solar heat
also erected on the south side facade. On
gain is immediately transported to the air-
east and west sides, double glazed curtain
handling unit. The purpose of this design is
walling system with fenestrations of less
to improve the thermal microclimate in the
than 50% were erected. The heat built up
room next to the window. The effect has
in capacity is extracted mechanically at
been studied and demonstrated (Haase and
the top of the window. The design tries to
Amato 2005).
minimize the cooling load requirement by
reducing solar heat gain. Consequently, the 1 Peking Road
thermal comfort is claimed to be enhanced.
For south side, in addition to the vertical 1 Peking Road (Kowloon) was built by
concrete fins, horizontal shading devices are Rocco Ltd and completed in 2003.
also erected.
The building design strongly emphasizes the
green building approach. In the top of the
Figure 7: Sha Tin Government roof there are BIPV integrated. The facade
Offices Building layout recognizes the different orientations of
the building and there is a call for action to
natural daylight in the offices.

One of the aims of the development was

to provide all users of the building with a
direct and intimate relationship with the
surroundings via a transparent external
building envelope. Although this required
clear glass to be specified, the designers
were able to offer an environmentally
sensitive cladding system. The tower
features a triple-glazed active wall system,
combining three layers of low emissivity

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clear glass with a ventilated cavity that as reflectors bouncing light up onto the
results in high light transmission yet a angled ceiling to transmit more natural light
low overall thermal transfer value (OTTV). inside while at the same time limiting the
Venetian blinds are housed in a 200 mm entry of direct sun. At night, these same fins
air gap in the glazing system and are are lit from below as architectural features.
operated by a computerised system. When (http://www.building.com.hk/feature/
sunlight sensors detect a need for shade, 10_03peking.pdf)
the blinds automatically descend to cut
glare and heat gain in the interiors. Sensors The part of the facade with double-skin was
also control the blinds’ blade angles and built with the trademark ‘Active Wall’ by
power for their operation comes from an Permasteelisa Group. This type of facade
array of photovoltaic panels located at is a box window with a mechanically
the rooftop. The south elevation features ventilated cavity of 200mm. The
innovative arrangements to reduce solar construction is similar to the airflow window
gain yet allow increased light transmission of Sha Tin Government Offices Building.
at the same time. Although standard ceiling The cavity of the DSF is mechanically
heights in the development are 2,800 ventilated with a controlled airflow that
mm on office floors, inclined ceilings transports heat gain to the HVAC-unit.
rise as they reach the windows, which
gain extra height as a result. Outside the New EMSD Headquarters
windows, aluminium sunshading fins serve The new EMSD Headquarters (Kowloon) was
built by the Architectural Services Department
Figure 8: 1 Peking Road (ASD) and completed in 2005. ASD tried
to promote ‘sustainable energy and space
development’ through this conversion. The
entire conversion project was centered on the
theme of environmental protection, pursuing
harmony with the buildings in the surrounding
environment (TDC 2005).

Figure 9: New EMSD Headquarters

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 Double–Skin Facades for Hong Kong

Thus, sustainable architecture, which focuses MODELLING

on the sustainable use of energy and space, Two different types of facades were identified
was the design theme of the building. The in the buildings sur veyed. The first is the
existing external walls of the main elevations externally naturally ventilated DSFs with depths
are converted into environmental facades, of 0.5m and 2.0m. The second is the internally
with ventilated double-layered curtain walls mechanically ventilated DSFs with a depth
for the office floors (6/F & 7/F) and metal of 0.2m as shown in Fig 10. This suggested
sun shades for the workshop floors (G/F five separate simulation models to assess
to 5 / F ) . A n a l u m i n i u m a r c h f r a m e and the effectiveness of DSFs: firstly, a prototype
perforated panels over the new Entrance Hall building with a single skin curtain wall system
unify the different elements of the 190m long with a 0.5m horizontal shading device (Option
main facade. 1); two buildings using externally naturally
• Ventilated double layered curtain walls, ventilated DSFs at different depths (Options
deep canopies and sun shades to 2 and 3); a building using an internally
control solar gain; mechanically ventilated DSF with a depth of
• Motion and daylight sensors to control 0.2m (Option 4); and finally, a variant of
artificial lighting (ASD 2005). Option 4 where unconditioned external air is
used for ventilating the cavity (Option 5).
The ventilated DSF was installed on the
building to improve thermal insulation. The To account for buoyancy flow in the cavity,
300-600 mm gap between the two layers four different assumptions were made. The
of glazing provides a return air path that simulation was run with 2, 5 10 air changes
dissipates heat gained on the surface glass per hour (ach) in the cavity. Additionally 200
layer, thus reducing the demand on the air- ach were assumed as a maximum of buoyancy
conditioning system. The DSF also improves flow to study the influence of further increases
the building’s noise insulation, effectively in ach. There was no support of airflow to the
shutting out traffic noise from the nearby HVAC-system assumed so all options were
Kwun Tong Bypass (Tam 2005). simulated with the same HVAC-system.

Figure 10: Principle of airflow window

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Table 3: Simulation Models

Facade Precedents Cavity Ventilation mode Shading devices

options width
Option 1 conventional curtain wall 0m No ventilation 0.5m horizontal
projection
Option 2 DSF with 500 mm air cavity and 0.5 m Natural ventilation at 2-10 air Movable blind in-
movable blind installed in-between change (ac) per hour or between cavity
(Ref: Dragonair/CNAC Building)
Mechanical ventilation at 200 ac
per hour (fan consumption not
included)
Option 3 DSF with 2000 mm air cavity and 2.0 m Natural ventilation at 2-10 ac per Movable blind in-
movable blind installed in-between hour or between cavity
(Ref: Building 5, Hong Kong Science
Mechanical ventilation at 200 ac
Park)
per hour (fan consumption not
included)
Option 4 air-flow options in which interior 0.2 m Fan flow rate at 472-litre per second Internal movable
conditioned air flows through blind
200mm cavity of double-skin facade
and returns into air handling unit
(Ref: Sha Tin Government Offices
Building and 1 Peking Road)

Option 5 air-flow options (Option 4) in which 0.2 m Natural ventilation at 2-10 ac per Internal movable
exterior unconditioned air is naturally hour or blind
ventilated through 200mm cavity
Mechanical ventilation at 200 ac
per hour

BUILDING SIMULATION simultaneously calculating radiation

and convection processes at each time
The VisualDOE software, which simulates step; constant convective heat transfer
whole building energy consumption, was coefficients are used, here different
used to simulate different types of double-skin airflow rates were applied with 2, 5,
facades. The software calculates the annual 10, and 200 ach;
electricity consumption of lighting, small • internal heat gain of adjoining rooms
power load and cooling in accordance with which flows through flows, partitions and
the weather data of a typical meteorological doors;
year (TMY) and the 1961–1990 National • internal heat gain of lighting, equipment
Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB). The and occupants; and
model simulates: • internal daylight illuminance of daylight
from window to centre of a room taking
• h e a t g a i n o f o u t s i d e a i r a n d s o l a r shading devices into consideration;
radiation which flows through the internal windows; direct solar radiation
building envelop in the form of impinging on sur faces is calculated
windows and opaque walls of hourly, taking geometry into account;
facades and roofs; it performs a heat dimming electric lighting controls
balance calculation at each time step, including heating and cooling effects.

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Table 4: Data presets used in VisualDOE

Data input Architectural layout of Orientation Light power Equipment Occup.

parameters tenants areas [1] density [2] power density density
[2] [2]
model Size of floor 54.9 m x 6 storey Rest on south- 25 W/sqm 25 W/sqm 8 sqm
plan: 29.4 m west and north- per
east axis person

Data input Roof Ceiling Floor Type of HVAC Light sensor Pattern of
parameters slab system operation
model Asphalt laid on Sus- 160 mm Standard Light sensor turns on Office pattern
200mm pended concrete variable air the artificial light
concrete roof ceiling floor slab volume (VAV) when internal
slab system daylight illuminance
is less than 500 lux

[1] typical office plan layout

[2] Reference: (EMSD 2005c).

Table 5: Simulation results

Facade Lighting Lighting Equipment Cooling Cooling Total Consumpt.
Options
Facade consumption
Lighting consumption
Lighting consumpt.
Equipment consumpt.
Cooling consumpt.
Cooling consumpt.
Total increase or
Consumpt.
Options per
consumption increase or
floor area consumption per floor
consumpt. per floor increase
consumpt. consumpt.or per floor
consumpt. reduction
increase %or
[1] reduction % in area reduction
per floor area increase or area
per floor per floor increase %or area
per floor reduction % in
comparison
[1] reduction % in area area2 reduction % in comparison in
2 area
(kWh/m2 floor with total (kWh/m2 (kWh/m comparison (kWh/m floor with total
comparison in comparison
(kWh/m2 area)
floor with total
floor area)2
(kWh/m floor area)2
(kWh/m with total (kWh/m2 area)
comparison floor Option
with total1
area) floor area) floor area) with total area) Option 1
Option 1[2]
no vent.
Option 1[2] 33.18 95.32 188.86 317.36
Option 2
no vent. 33.18 95.32 188.86 317.36
no vent.
Option 2 39.21 1.90% 95.32 163.99 -7.84% 298.52 -5.94%
2ach
no vent. 39.21 1.90% 95.32 163.85
163.99 -7.88%
-7.84% 298.38
298.52 -5.98%
-5.94%
5ach
2ach 39.21 1.90% 95.32 163.71
163.85 -7.92%
-7.88% 298.24
298.38 -6.02%
-5.98%
10ach
5ach 39.21 1.90% 95.32 163.04
163.71 -8.14%
-7.92% 297.57
298.24 -6.24%
-6.02%
200ach
10ach 39.21 1.90% 95.32 160.77
163.04 -8.85%
-8.14% 295.30
297.57 -6.95%
-6.24%
Option 3
200ach 39.21 1.90% 95.32 160.77 -8.85% 295.30 -6.95%
no vent.
Option 3 43.52 3.26% 95.32 155.72 -10.44% 294.56 -7.18%
2ach
no vent. 43.52 3.26% 95.32 154.77
155.72 -10.74%
-10.44% 293.61
294.56 -7.48%
-7.18%
5ach
2ach 43.52 3.26% 95.32 153.72
154.77 -11.07%
-10.74% 292.56
293.61 -7.81%
-7.48%
10ach
5ach 43.52 3.26% 95.32 152.62
153.72 -11.42%
-11.07% 291.46
292.56 -8.16%
-7.81%
200ach
10ach 43.52 3.26% 95.32 149.38
152.62 -12.44%
-11.42% 288.22
291.46 -9.18%
-8.16%
Option200ach
4 [3]
43.52 3.26% 95.32 149.38 -12.44% 288.22 -9.18%
me.vent.
Option 4[3] 37.05 1.22% 95.32 163.28 -8.06% 295.65 -6.84%
Option 5
me.vent. 37.05 1.22% 95.32 163.28 -8.06% 295.65 -6.84%
no vent.
Option 5 37.05 1.22% 95.32 163.35 -8.04% 295.72 -6.82%
2ach
no vent. 37.05 1.22% 95.32 163.33
163.35 -8.04% 295.70
295.72 -6.83%
-6.82%
5ach
2ach 37.05 1.22% 95.32 163.08
163.33 -8.12%
-8.04% 295.45
295.70 -6.90%
-6.83%
10ach
5ach 37.05 1.22% 95.32 162.78
163.08 -8.22%
-8.12% 295.15
295.45 -7.00%
-6.90%
200ach
10ach 37.05 1.22% 95.32 159.07
162.78 -9.39%
-8.22% 291.44
295.15 -8.17%
-7.00%
200ach 37.05 1.22% 95.32 159.07 -9.39% 291.44 -8.17%
[1] All options with light sensor which turns on when daylight illuminance level is lower than
[1] 500 lux (EMSD
All options with2005a)
light sensor which turns on when daylight illuminance level is lower than
[2] 500
Without ventilation.
lux (EMSD 2005a)
[3]
[2] mechanically ventilated by 152mm fan
Without ventilation.
[3] mechanically ventilated by 152mm fan
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To model the heat-flow and daylight intensity, CONCLUSIONS

the presets inside VisualDOE were used as
shown in Table 4 to evaluate the indoor Several conclusions can be drawn from the
temperature and daylight illuminance of results. The first is that Option 3 is the model
building interiors. with the largest energy reduction. Option
2 (with no ventilation) and Option 4 provide
a smaller reduction in energy consumption.
RESULTS
Option 5 provides a reduction of 8.17% at
The designed features tested included considerably lower costs. This means that
airflow windows, active wall system and the modified double-skin facade is the best
double facades with different cavity widths, solution for Hong Kong.
the thermal mass as well as air inlet and
top outlet details. The ef fectiveness of Then, a small increase of 4.87kWh/m2 floor
utilising double-skin facades was assessed area (from 33.18 to 37.05kWh/m2 floor area)
by modelling a similar prototype building of lighting consumption was simulated for Option
with a curtain wall system and comparing 5 with a cavity width of 200mm. This is a total
the two. increase of energy consumption of 1.22%.
Option 3 provides a higher increase of lighting
The results are classified into the energy- consumption (10.34 kWh/m2 floor area which
consuming units lighting, cooling and is 3.26%) due to its width of 2000mm.
internal equipment. For all five options the
yearly energy consumption for each unit Finally, the airflow in the cavity of the double-
and different air changes (ach) are shown in skin facade was responsible for a significant
Table 5. reduction of energy consumption (cooling).
While for Option 5 the cooling consumption
In order to identify the consumption increase reduces from 163.35 to 159.07kWh/m 2
and decrease the percentage of total energy floor area (1.35%), for Option 3 the reduction
consumption of Option 1 are shown. A of cooling consumption is from 155.74 to
positive number indicates an increase and 149.3877kWh/m2 floor area (2.00%).
a negative number shows a reduction of
consumption. Option 3 shows the best Additional studies should enable an optimum
consumption reduction of 9.18% (Option 3 cavity width to be determined. The assumptions
with 200 air changes per hour) in comparison of the different airflows could be further
to a single skin solution follow by Option 5 explored in order to optimise the reduction in
with a reduction of 8.17% (Option 5 with 200 energy consumption. A comparison with real
air changes per hour). data measured at the project sites could help
to validate the results. In the following chapter
By looking at the consumption pattern of the further investigations are proposed.
three different energy-consuming units an
increase of lighting and a decrease of cooling The simulation model had a double-skin
consumption is apparent. facade on all four elevations. Further studies
of the effectiveness in relation to the facade
The difference of energy savings for Option orientation may consider favourable facade
3 between no ventilation and a ventilation of orientations, and could provide detailed
200 air changes per hour is 2.00%. information for design considerations.

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Although this study produced useful results, it overall performance of double-skin facades in
also had two important limitations. The first hot and humid climates (Amato et al. 2004).
limitation is that at the moment no data is
available on the performance of the building It is hoped that further investigations
and the facade in particular. The data that can help to validate the advantages of
would be most helpful are: double-skin facades in hot and humid
climates.
• temperature and humidity in the
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