Evaluation of double skin façade application to reduce energy consumption in cold and dry climate  (Case study: A commercial building in Karaj City)

Khaleghi Babaee, Ali; Aflaki, Ardalan; Mirsafa, Masoumeh

doi:10.22034/jrenew.2025.212610

Evaluation of double skin façade application to reduce energy consumption in cold and dry climate (Case study: A commercial building in Karaj City)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ali Khaleghi Babaee ¹

Ardalan Aflaki ²

Masoumeh Mirsafa ³

¹ Master of Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

² Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

https://doi.org/10.22034/jrenew.2025.212610

Abstract

High consumption of energy in commercial buildings due to public use at different hours leads to irreparable consequences, including damage to the environment. As an effective building component in radiation control, facade plays an important role in reducing energy consumption. Unfortunately, in recent years, attention to the aesthetic dimension of the building has caused the role of the facade and the use of up-to-date techniques in the field of building technology to be less investigated as an effective energy reducer. The current study, by using a double-shell facade instead of a single-shell facade or a combination of single-shell and two-shell facades in a commercial building in Karaj, investigates the role of using double-skin facades and combined facades in reducing heat and cold loss through walls. The study conducts library and documentary studies to conduct research background, and establishes simulation method using Design Builder software to measure the effectiveness of the mentioned technique in cold and dry climate. The results of the study show that the consumption of gas and electricity in the coldest and hottest months of the year in the combined facade compared to single skin facade is reduced by approximately 20% and 15%, respectively. On the other hand, due to the insignificant reduction of energy in the comparison of two-layer and combined facades, in order to reduce the costs of construction and execution in the building, the combined facade has a better justification in cold and dry climates.

Keywords

Double-Skin Façade

Energy Consumption Reduction

Building Technology

Parametric studies

Energy Simulation

Subjects

Renewable and New Energy

- مراجع

[1] M. Rafian, A. Fathjalali, & A. Dadashpour, "Investigation and feasibility of the effect of the form and density of residential blocks on urban energy consumption: A case study of the new city of Hashtgerd," Arman Shahr Journal, no. 6, 2019. (in Persian).

[2] Kh. Haji pour & N. Forozan, "Investigating the effect of city form on the amount of functional energy consumption in the residential sector: Case study: Shiraz city," Journal of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Urban Design, vol. 19, no. 4, 2013. (in Persian).

[3] F. Mohammadpour, M. Kazemi, & B. Mardani, "Investigating factors affecting the reduction of energy consumption in residential structures," The First International Conference on New Achievements in Science and Technology, 2017. (in Persian).

[4] N. Nazifi & N. Rahimi, "Double skin facade: A solution to reduce energy consumption in buildings," International Conference on Sustainable Development and Urban Development, 2019. (in Persian).

[5] M. Hossieni, "Intelligent skin in commercial buildings," International Conference of New Horizons in Civil-Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning, 2016. (in Persian)

[6] M. Soheilirad, "Localization of smart facade technology according to the principles of Iranian geometry," The Second International Research Conference in Civil-Architecture and Urban Planning, 2014. (in Persian).

[7] S. Ahmadi, A. Seydian, & M. Jamshidi, "A case study of new systems of intelligent facades with an efficiency approach," The Third International Conference on New Findings of Architecture-Civilization and Construction Industry, 2018. (in Persian).

[8] H. Sadeghi & H. Okhovat, "Surveying the facade of smart buildings," The Third International Conference on Civil-Architecture and Urban Design, 2016. (in Persian).

[9] M. Taraz, K. Taghizadeh, & M. Azizi, "Energy and efficiency analysis of a movable facade in Tehran," Naqsh Jahan Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 55–64, 2015. (in Persian).

[10] A. Ebrahimi & M. Ghajari, "The reasons for using classical facades in Iranian buildings," The Second International Conference on Modern Researches in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Management, and Environment, Karaj, 2018. (in Persian).

[11] N. Babalhaveigi & B. Mirzadeh, "The effect of double skin facade in energy saving of buildings," The Second Sustainable Architecture Conference, 2011. (in Persian).

[12] A. Arjmandnia, "Using smart materials and facades with a sustainable approach," Monthly Research in Art and Human Sciences, vol. 1, no. 1(4), pp. 31–41, 2016. (in Persian).

[13] A. Jankovic & F. Goia, "Impact of double skin façade constructional features on heat transfer and fluid dynamic behaviour," Building and Environment Journal, 2021.

[14] A. Zolfaghari, M. Saadati, & E. Nourozi, "Energy analysis of the use of double skin facades with phase change materials in a high-rise building in Tehran," Modares Mechanical Engineering Journal, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 34–40, 2015. (in Persian).

[15] A. Dugue, "Case study of a double skin façade: Focus on the gap between predicted and measured performance," VII International Congress on Architectural Envelopes, May 27–29, 2015, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain.

[16] M. Moghtadi & M. Khanmohammadi, "Investigating the features of two skin facades and optimal use of energy in line with the goals of environmentally sustainable architecture in high-rise buildings of the third millennium," International Conference on Research in Science and Technology, Malaysia, 2014. (in Persian).

[17] Z. Keshavarz, M. Taban, & M. Mehrzadeh, "Optimizing natural ventilation in the two-layer facade of a case study office building in Shiraz," Sustainable Architect Design Journal, vol. 5, no. 1, 2017. (in Persian).

[18] M. Shamas Dehkordi, S. Sadeghi, & A. Esmaili, "Double skin facades: An architectural solution in cold and mountainous climates," International Conference on Architecture, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Art, and Environment, Tehran, 2012. (in Persian).

[19] M. Rahimi & S. Ezadabadi, "The effect of double skin façade on natural ventilation in office buildings in temperate and humid climates," Green Architect Journal, vol. 3, no. 8, 2022. (in Persian)

[20] F. Ahmadi, M. Farokhzad, & M. Pazhohanfar, "An overview of the criteria and advantages of using double skin facades in office buildings," The 4th Technology Development Forum, The Annual Exhibition and Conference of New Civil-Architectural Findings and the Construction Industry of Iran, 2020. (in Persian).

[21] A. Ghanbaran & A. Hossienpour, "Investigating the thermal behavior of double skin facades in the thermal climate of Tehran," Two Quarterly Journals of Architecture and Sustainable Urban Development, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 43–53, 2013. (in Persian).

[22] A. Hossieni & A. Gharakhani, "Sustainable architecture and reducing energy consumption in shopping malls," 5th International Conference on Research in Science and Technology, London, England, 2016. (in Persian).

[23] A. Ahriz, A. Mesloub, L. Djeffal, B. Alsolami, A. Ghosh, & M. Abdelhafez, "The use of double skin façade to improve the energy consumption of high-rise office buildings in a Mediterranean climate," Sustainability Journal, vol. 14, no. 6004, 2022.

[24] M. Hadianpour, A. Zarkesh, & M. Mahdavinezhad, "How to use double skin facades in line with the optimal use of energy in buildings," Danesh Nama Journal, no. 227, pp. 28–36, 2014. (in Persian).