Indoor climate as a function of building orientation

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Abstract
A general observation from the Gulf States is that some buildings are completely dependent on mechanical air-conditioning. Due to the availability of cheap energy, some designers tend to overlook the importance of climate during the design process. As a result, a large amount of energy is needed for the mechanical control of indoor climate. It is estimated that approximately 65% of the electrical energy generated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is consumed in buildings. There is no doubt that a large proportion of this energy is used in cooling the buildings during the long hot summer. This paper has also been influenced by the latest development plan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which calls for energy savings. A complex set of factors influences the thermal performance of buildings and hence determines the amount of energy required for the mechanical control of indoor climate. This paper attempts to visualize the effect of orientation on indoor climate in the hot-dry region of Saudi Arabia. The study is based on an experimental survey carried out on the staff housing at King Saud University [1]. Some apartments were selected for the case study. These are similar in all aspects influencing thermal behaviour, such as materials, construction and form, but differ in orientation. Indoor air temperature and internal surface temperatures were recorded. The results are then analysed and evaluated.

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