In modern architecture, there is a trend for using Glass as a major part of building envelope. Arab Countries generally and Palestine specially , the owner, the consultant or contractor tend to use the single skin façade in buildings with large glazing area because they expected the single skin façade is cheaper than the other solutions as double skin façade. The owner, consultant and contractor don’t consider the impact of this type of facade on energy efficiency and human comfort.
The important aspects that we were included in this project are the type of facades that is used in buildings (Traditional (stone), Single skin glass façade, Double skin glass façade) and taking into consideration (type of glass, number of layers, transparency, shading, and cost). In addition to the effect of the glass and the cavity in double skin façade on heating and cooling capacity, daylight, acoustics, operation and construction cost.
The main objective of the project is to study, analyze and compare between double skin façade and single skin façade in our climate and weather to overcome the problems resulting from this single skin glazing facade at walls. These problems include: excess heat in summer, more heat loss in winter, lighting problems as glare, color decay, furniture damage, acoustic problem, and natural ventilation.
After analyze, study the three cases of building facades (Traditional, single skin façade, and double skin façade) we found the double skin façade provides a good solution for:
· Sufficient daylight almost without using shadow as curtains on all glass.
· Huge difference between the value of double skin façade and the value of single skin façade in each heating and cooling load per average day (about 140 KW/Avg days, a single skin façade is more).
· Double skin façade with low emissive glass is close with the value of insulated traditional building in each heating and cooling load per average day.
· Natural ventilation, change the air in the building and air flow effect in cooling and heating load in double skin façade.
· Need almost 14 years to retain the extra money that paid for double skin façade from single skin façade.