Simulation-Based Assessment of Smart Adaptive Façade Retrofits for a Tall Office Building in London

Farhan Ishrak and Dr. Tania Sharmin

This study examines whether smart, adaptive façade retrofits can enhance the energy efficiency of One Canada Square, an existing high-rise commercial office building in London’s temperate oceanic climate. Using detailed parametric energy modelling and simulation analysis, the study addresses important knowledge gaps in smart façade retrofit applications for historically significant landmarks. The model was developed in DesignBuilder using the EnergyPlus simulation engine and integrated with the Urban Weather Generator to account for urban heat island effects. Four retrofit strategies, such as electrochromic glazing, thermochromic glazing, dynamic shading, and building-integrated photovoltaics, were assessed across multiple façade orientations. Thirty-one simulation scenarios were analysed using annual site and source energy consumption as the primary performance indicators. Results demonstrate that adaptive façade systems reduced annual site and source energy consumption by 23.9%. and 10.07%, demonstrating the importance of orientation-sensitive adaptive façade optimisation while prioritising post-occupancy validation and measured-data calibration before installation.

Keywords: Smart adaptive facades, energy efficiency, sustainable tall buildings, urban microclimate study.

Evaluation of passive design strategies for high-rise office buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and their impacts on thermal comfort and energy efficiency

Daizie Truong and Daveed Chow

Rapid urbanization in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has accelerated high-rise construction, resulting in high electricity demand from mechanical cooling. Despite Vietnam’s energy-efficiency policies, the adoption of passive design strategies (PDSs) in office high-rises remains limited. This dissertation evaluates PDSs for reducing energy use and improving thermal comfort in HCMC high-rise office buildings. A representative building is modelled in DesignBuilder assessed using Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and Discomfort Hours (DH). Results show that internal shading is the most effective single strategy, followed by high-performance glazing. Orientation and shape changes have minimal impact while natural ventilation is inefficient. The best strategy to reduce energy demand is combining enhancing envelope and solar shading, which reduces energy demand by 19% and almost all discomfort hours (99.7%) with a low cooling set point.

Keywords: Passive design strategies, energy efficiency, thermal comfort

Heat Deferral Acceptance Within The UK

Samantha Loveday and Stephanie Gauthier

Widespread heat pump deployment may increase demand on the UK’s low-voltage electricity network, making demand response and heat deferral increasingly important. This study investigated factors influencing public acceptance of automated heat deferral. A systematic review of UK and comparable international field trials identified eight recurring factors: financial incentives, user control, home ownership, system design, thermal comfort, system knowledge, household demographics, and education. These factors informed analysis of a UK survey of 3,185 respondents, with 3,155 valid responses. Approval of deferral was measured using a five point Likert scale, recoded into approval and disapproval categories, with neutral responses excluded. Net Approval Scores were calculated, while associations were tested using Pearson’s chi-squared tests, Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc comparisons, and Cramer’s V effect sizes. The overall approval scores were significantly negative, with environmental attitudes and the level of temperature decrease being the most significant factors influencing approval.

Keywords: Heat deferral, Demand response, Consumer acceptance