Abstract
Windows and their control elements, such as shadings, are the most critical building components impacting energy consumption and occupant comfort. This study investigates the impact of shading design for an office building on improving building energy efficiency and occupant comfort. The selected is in Atlanta, Georgia, zone Cfa category in the Köppen climate classification. A fixed shading system is chosen for this study. The variable louver shading configurations are slat angle, depth, and the number of slats. 225 models are studied and then the Preto Frontier optimization is used to select the top 10 models. The objectives are reducing the energy-use-intensity (EUI) and thermal discomfort hours while improving the user’s visual comfort. The results showed that 1-slat configurations resulted in the best outcomes. It is also shown that the downward rotation is a better solution for office buildings in Atlanta. These results can be served as inputs for studying urban microclimate and smart city planning.
