Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Art, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2 Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Horticultural greenhouses are seen as a potential solution to challenges in modern agriculture, such as food crises and climate change. The demand for energy in greenhouses has been increasing, with heated agricultural structures accounting for up to 36% of agricultural energy use. To this end, this study explores the energy efficiency and solar potential of different Box-Windows Double-Skin Façade (DSF) designs integrated with greenhouses in a hot-arid climate. A parametric study using the DesignBuilder energy simulation tool was conducted to examine the effects of various DSF configurations. The study focused on the geometry of the outer skin and the air cavity depth between the two skins. The considered DSF could be mounted on the south face of the construction. Three DSF types were compared: Flat (base model), Deformed from Top Cases (DTC), and Deformed from Bottom Cases (DBC), with cavity widths ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 meters. Results show that adjusting the DSF’s outer skin geometry can improve thermal performance and ventilation in hot climates. The DTC model outperformed both the Flat and DBC models, offering up to 35% better performance. This research suggests that optimizing the geometry of DSFs could be a passive solution for improving energy efficiency, natural ventilation, and managing water and humidity in greenhouse environments.
Keywords
- Horticultural greenhouse
- Double Skin Façade (DSF), Geometry, Energy efficient, Natural ventilation, Water
Main Subjects
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