Abstract

In recent years climate change has brought to light a rising interest on its potential impact amongst the various human activities, in which building sector is included. Local climate determines the external conditions that buildings have to adapt to, having a direct influence on their energy demand for heating and cooling. In this context, computer aided simulation provides with handy tools that help in assessing this impact. This research investigates how a change in climate data for future scenarios will affect energy demand in office buildings in the city of Santiago (Chile). Climate data has been generated for the years 2020, 2050 and 2080, following the acknowledged A2 ‘medium-high’ emissions Greenhouse Gases GHG scenario, according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC. Predicted energy demand for buildings is calculated by means of an implementation of the calculation procedure of ISO-13790:2008, taking as external conditions the three aforementioned scenarios. Finally, the effect of climate change in the energy demand for office buildings is clarified and then optimized, based on iterations of its envelope and form. As a result, this research clarifies how future climate scenarios will affect energy demand for different types of office buildings and how their shape and enclosure can be optimized to counteract this effect. Study on Envelope in Office Buildings Under the Influence of Climate Change in Santiago, Chile. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315351095_Study_on_Envelope_in_Office_Buildings_Under_the_Influence_of_Climate_Change_in_Santiago_Chile [accessed May 3, 2017].