Utilization of double skin facades to reduce carbon emissions and energy efficiency in Egypt

Abstract

The COVID-19 virus has required improving air quality and reducing carbon dioxide levels in buildings to help reduce its spread. Recently, double-skin façades have the ability to reduce cooling loads and carbon emissions. Consequently, they have become very popular. This study, which is simulation-based, aims to provide a comparative analysis between using double-skin facades and their effect on CO2 emissions and energy efficiency abatement in educational buildings in Egypt. The results indicate that, when using double skin facades with a depth of 120 cm for corridor façades and shaft box facades, carbon emissions are reduced by 23.80%, 17.98%, carbon equivalent is reduced by 24.73%, 18.26, and energy consumption is reduced by 29.77% . While the use of the Box Window Façades with a depth of 90 cm is the most efficient, which reduces carbon emissions by 18.32%, carbon equivalent by 19.83%, and energy consumption by 27.84%. Multi-story facades with a depth of 150 cm reduce carbon emissions by 21.23%, carbon equivalent by 21.58%, and energy consumption by 29.49%. The study concluded that the double facades of the corridor type with a depth of 120 cm are the best for improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions in educational buildings in Egypt, followed by double facades of the multi-story type with a depth of 150 cm, then double facades of the box window type with a depth of 90 cm, and then double facades of the shaft box type with a depth of 120 cm.