The Effect of Window Configurations on Visible Area and Energy Consumption in the Hot and Humid Climate

Two design parameters are considered in this study: (a) the area of outside view visible through windows and (b) the energy consumption due to solar heat gain and self-shading of window configurations. The impacts of eight different window configurations in four directions and three window types of clear, tinted and double-pane laminated glasses on a generic air-conditioned hotel room were modeled using building simulation programs. The actual visible areas (AVA) for each window configuration were assessed by using visibility analysis dialog in the Ecotect simulation program, and the Energy Use Index (EUI) of the internal room in the building was calculated by the eQuest simulation program. The bay window with window to wall ratio (WWR) of 38.1% could be an alternative design option with lowest EUI value and moderate AVA. The corner window with window to wall ratio of 32.0-42.0% provided largest actual visible area of outside view with the highest energy consumption. Comparing the ratio EUI/AVA and its reciprocal among the eight window configurations, the corner window has the lowest EUI/AVA ration. In addition, utilizing either the tinted or double-pane laminated glass in flat, bay and corner windows reduces energy consumption by 18.3-22.4% compared to the clear glass windows.