Impact of local urban climate on building energy performance: case studies in Mendoza, Argentina

GANEM, CAROLINA; BALTER, JULIETA; ALCHAPAR, NOELIA

Urban Microclimate Modelling for Comfort and Energy Studies

Springer International Publishing

Lugar: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65421-4; Año: 2021; p. 465 - 484

Building thermal performance and its energy consumption are affected by the energy exchange processes taking place between the outer skin or envelope of the building and the surrounding environment. It is a dynamic system in which there are continuous changes in a daily and seasonal range. Quantity and quality of the exposed envelope as well as albedo, vegetation and urban geometry are significant factors in determining the impact of urban microclimates on energy building consumption. Existing buildings and their microclimates can be monitored in situ. This practice is very useful but time and resource consuming. Only some punctual cases can be evaluated thoroughly, and it is impossible to measure buildings that are still in project. Building energy simulation (BES) programs are capable of modeling building energy performance in detail in a dynamic model. The weather variables in an urban microclimate may be subtly different from the conditions prevailing over the area as a whole. Nevertheless, the input of meteorological conditions is usually taken from long-term averages provided by local weather stations. These data series ignore the modifying effect on the surroundings. This chapter presents several case studies for low and high density areas in the city of Mendoza, Argentina in which year round in situ microclimate and building measurements of temperature, humidity, radiation and air movement are taken. Then, a specific weather file is created for each case, with measured microclimatic data, to be integrated in BES programs. After that, models are calibrated with the measured building data, to be run again with the information provided by local weather stations. Results obtained with the local average climate input and with the onsite microclimatic measurements are compared. Differences outstand the impact of urban microclimates on energy consumption of buildings.