Passive Solar Energy Efficiency in Onder Commercial Building, Famagusta

1 | P a g e Passive Solar Energy Efficiency in Onder Commercial Building, Famagusta, North Cyprus

Passive Solar Energy Efficiency in Onder Commercial Building, Famagusta

Soheil Ghaderi

Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract:

Passive solar energy is actually the principle design aspect has been playing a significant role in

architecture in the recent years. Commercial buildings because of their large spaces have been high-

energy consumption, although by taking benefits of passive solar strategies, energy consumption

reduction in these kinds of buildings will result to cost decrease as much as possible. The microclimate

also environmental conditions generally both known to get physical and emotional influence on human

and, as a result, of main importance in building design improvement.

The purpose of this study is to focus on energy efficiency in Onder Commercial building in Famagusta,

Northern Cyprus. This paper provides standards and proper information for better organization in pre-

design stages to create energy efficient buildings to make comfort zone inside by the help of applicable

passive solar energy strategies in commercial buildings.

Passive solar design is unique and essential concept for designing which can be used in Cyprus

commercial buildings. The necessity of designing on the passive solar is that Cyprus has not any kind of

energy sources by its own self. As the passive solar energy approaches and climatic characteristics of

Famagusta located in the northern hemisphere, the building ought to be orientated due to north-south. The

reason for this method is actually south facade creates the best vertical surface to take advantages of

passive solar energy. Proper sun shading devices by the aid of plants and trees at the west and east of the

building, will improve energy consumption in summer. Furthermore, the correct use of south facade for

windows, and minimizing the windows on the west and east facade are some solutions to have comfort

inside in cold months. Utilization of double or triple glazing windows is another solution to prevent heat

loss of interior spaces in winter. Besides, the cost reduction of energy consumption can be another priority

for using of passive methods in commercial building. In addition, optimum ventilation will accomplish by

correct usage of small opening in north facade of the commercial buildings. By applying these strategies,

customers and employees will enjoy of indoor comfort condition in both hot and cold seasons.

Keywords: passive solar techniques, commercial building, energy efficiency, sustainability

1.Introduction

Passive solar design can be defined as the

utilization of local climate features with sun’s

energy as well as selected construction materials

in order to proper suitable condition in the

building (Morrissey,J.,2010).

The using of passive solar energy method is one

necessary factor in designing commercial

building within the Cyprus Island. Cyprus

should use renewable energy instead of fossil

fuel. These types of sources are replenishing by

themselves.

Preparing comfortable condition in the building

by passive solar energy depends on some

factors. The correct use of windows, double or

triple glazing, sun shading devices, orientation

of the building and some other factors can

creates proper indoor natural ventilation, natural

light and satisfaction feeling in the hot and cold

seasons in the building.


1.1. Research problem

In fact, commercial buildings expend a lot of

energy in Gazimagusa. There is major

problem due to high rate of energy usage and

also financial issues in commercial buildings.

Passive solar strategy prepares many

advantageous for one commercial building. It

will be considered with the aid of

methodology determined by problem solving.

1.2. Research question

How can the passive solar energy develop the

energy efficiency in Onder commercial

building?

1.3. Case study Onder commercial building, Esref Bitlis Cd

Street, Salamis Street, Famagusta

2. Literature review

2.1. Passive solar energy

Passive solar energy is one technique that

decides to use of natural processes, such as

radiation, convention, and also conduction, to

help distribute thermal heat has given by the sun.

Passive solar energy additionally consists of

preventing the sun’s radiation in order to supply

cooling through the summer time(Brainbridge,

D.,2011).In the other word, the methods

regarding passive solar energy are actually

reduce the consumption involving cooling,

heating, lighting and also ventilation

(Stevanovic, S.,2013). The idea of passive solar

could possibly depends upon numerous aspects

including forms, insulation of floors, wall

structure, glazing kind, orientation, shading

device and also the percentage of openings on

the wall and ect (Stevanovic, S.,2013).

Structures with passive solar method naturally

make the use of the sun without cost heating,

cooling and also lighting with large energy

efficiency (Brainbridge, D.,2011). This

decreases the requirement to consume energy of

other resources and offers a comfortable natural

environment at interior of building. Adding the

solar energy into the buildings will certainly

reduce the actual amount of money that people

spend on energy. In addition other types of

energy will extend for long time (Yannas, S.,

1998).

Designing and creating a suitable commercial

building base on passive solar strategies, needs a

multidisciplinary design group (Lapithis, p.,

2002).

“The extensive uses of solar technologies, which

are often integral parts of the design, make the

design process different from traditional

methods. It requires the energy aspects to be

considered from the early design stage, and also

requires the architects, engineers and the clients

collaboration from the beginning. Training of

constructors and on-site supervision is

particularly important in low-energy buildings.”

(Lapithis, p., 2002).

2.2. Passive solar energy efficiency in Cyprus

The main step should be climatic information

evaluation for each energy efficient building

design (Eshraghi, J., Narjabadifam, N.,

Mirkhani, N., et al., 2014).

Using of renewable energy sources is one of the

essentiality concerns for Cyprus Island. Wind,

water, plant, and sunlight are some of the

renewable energy that can help to use the less of

fossils fuels. These kinds of resources are

generally replenishing by themselves. The

experience of using passive solar strategy shows

that the buildings can create suitable indoor

temperatures irrespective of outside condition


The passive solar strategies prove that one

building can obtain high thermal comfort with

designing based on low energy buildings.

Suitable inside natural ventilation and minimum

environmental effect are some other positive

influences of the passive solar strategy. With


considering the area climate and physical

qualities in the building materials, as well as use

from the basic principles regarding temperature

transfer, will create the actual manage of the

comfort condition indoor of the buildings. It

works even actually within places with normal

maximum temperature close to 31.7°C. Suitable

condition within building is possible with using

appropriate building design. Therefore, it

decreases the use of air condition in the building.

Designing the building by cooling passive

methods should be considered at Cyprus island,

because the large utilization of air conditioning

devices (Lapithis, p., 2002).

Ozone layer destruction, High energy

consumption especially in summer time, as well

as higher peak electricity requirements are some

of the bad influences from large utilization of air

conditioning at buildings. And also it enhances

indices of diseases signs, like headache, dry

eyes. Furthermore, installing the air conditioning

devices, operation and preservation make an

additional charge inside the buildings. Charges

for importation of air conditioning devices in hot

weather areas show a high rate of product sales

in air conditioning systems (Lapithis, p., 2002).

2.3. Direct gain

Buildings can improve their function by using of

passive solar energy without spending

considerable money to constructing them. Direct

gain, insolated gain and indirect gain are tree

guidelines of passive solar energy. Direct gain is

proper strategy between other strategies for this

climate. Direct gain has some advantageous for

the buildings. In fact with direct gain, building

can achieve the direct solar radiation. The

correct form of windows and roof monitor for

facing to the sunlight are significant factors for

direct solar strategy. Roof monitor has the

ability to achieve direct solar radiation to

building’s spaces that do not have proper sun

lighting (Lapithis, p., 2002).

2.3.1. Benefits of direct gain

The direct gain is easiest guideline in the passive

solar strategy that buildings can use for lighting

and heating. The entire technique is the least

expensive strategies of solar area heating. The

buildings with large parts of glazing not just

achieve solar radiation regarding heat system but

additionally large amount of daylight as well as

great visual condition to the exterior. Along with

sufficient insulation material from the buildings,

it will be able to depend entirely in direct obtain

as a passive solar method applied in the Cyprus


2.3.2. Disadvantage of direct gain

There is one main disadvantage for direct gain

strategy. Designers can improve the buildings

with understanding the disadvantageous of direct

gain strategy. According to the passive solar

method, the windows on the south facade should

be large, because, they can achieved the

maximum solar radiation for heating in the

winter time. But, in the other hand, this

characteristic can create problem in the summer

time. These large windows cause over heating in

the summer. The overheating problem

especially increases in the end of summer time


Shading devices are the easiest protection from

overheating. The shading device system

prevents the majority of the diffused as well as

the reflected solar rays. Hinged shutters exterior

of the glazing and also roll able are some

example of sun shading devices. One more

choice for preventing the radiation is internal

covered panels, with white painted at the

external surface (Lapithis, p., 2002).


2.4. Sun shading

Designing based on energy efficient includes

some factors. Enhancing thermal comfort,

consideration of sufficient lighting and, shading

for prohibit of overheating are some of these

factors. Utilization of passive heating and

cooling can considerably lead to decreasing the

entire energy consumption. Windows have

significant role for preparing indoor heat

whether in winter and cool weather in summer

time. Based on passive solar energy, windows

should be appropriately shaded to prevent

overheating and also energy preserving. The

shading devices can be categorized as exterior as

well as interior devices. They can classify for

variety of facades on the building. Kischkoweit-

Lopin analyzed several passive solar techniques.

For instance, shading devices impacting

daylighting inside the buildings was one of his

researches. A summary of numerous current

sunshades has been presented with short detail

and sketches that describe to find the proper

system for the specific condition. Sun shades

will not be just for decreasing the building

temperature in hot season however, are usually

usable in order to warm up the building in the

winter time (Ralegaonkar, R. V., & Gupta, R.,

2010).

2.5. Energy efficiency and light

Sun light can be a main requirement in the

buildings especially in the cooler climate. The

sunlight is viewed as supplying light as well as

warmth. Besides, it creates areas appear bright

as well as creating a therapeutic, health

providing result (Littlefair, 2001).

Day time lighting design not just save the energy

but additionally cause airy architecture regarding

excellent beauty. Actually, nowadays light has

developed into a main subject within energy

design, beside passive solar cooling and heating.

Therefore, natural lighting analyses include two

parts: energy efficiency and also day light in the

building (Zain-Ahmed, A., 2000).

2.6. Orientation and passive energy efficiency

Generally, in most areas, design leading towards

the supply regarding thermal comfort by means

of passive solar energy can decrease the active

manage requirements, as well as reduce energy

consumption. Proper passive solar design must

evaluate essential building factors for instance

plan proportion, form, and building orientation.

Between these parameters, proper orientation

can be the basic standard and also most simply

part of passive solar design (Morrissey, J.,

2010).

solar glazing can be one effective way in the

passive solar energy. Solar glazing for achieving

the solar radiation need to face the winter sun, in

fact it is possible with correct orientation of

building. Appropriate orientation is actually a

successful method to reduce energy

consumption. Moreover, possibility of additional

savings from sophisticated solar methods can be

another benefit of proper orientation. Besides,

Orientation can be important for the

improvement of scale. The relation between site

planning and the building orientation as well as

building design create a considerable effect for

the energy consumption in the building

(Morrissey, J., 2010).

It is obvious which useful solar radiation as

necessary by passive solar performance, is a

dynamic perform regarding building geometry,

orientation, thermal mass, heat transfer systems

as well as glazing percentage.

Furthermore, accessible passive solar energy

from any kind of given area is affected by

existing climate as well as regional topography

(Morrissey, J., 2010).

In addition it will obtain the advantages of

struggling with the east-west direction to be able

to capitalizing on solar penetration where ever


possible by help from thermal mass (Turner, W.

C., 1980).

2.7. Shape and size

One key factor in passive solar layout is actually

to have oblong cube and also with compact

pattern in order to save the radiation. Cubic form

provides the greater volume than oblong form. It

implies thermal comfort connection with human

health can be suitable in cubic form. Another

main factor is actually concerning actual

percentage from windows region to floor region.

It is significant influences on proper designed

for wall structure to enhance the energy

efficiency (Turner, W. C., 1980).

3. Field study

Problem solving is the methodology that used in

this article. All data collected in four categories.

They included of personal observation, analyses

by maps, questionnaires and interview. The

questionnaires were from 20 people (men and

women). And also these included of 15

customers and 5 employees who work in Onder

commercial building, Famagusta, North Cyprus.

The interview from two experienced architects

in this subject was another part of data

collection.

3.1. Personal observations

Observation is by photography of Onder

commercial building. As it can be seen in the

(Figure 2) Onder commercial building does not

have any sky light for achieving the solar

radiation from the roof. The benefits of sky light

is utilization of natural light at indoor of the

building and increasing the heat temperature in

the winter time. In addition, with using a

suitable atrium or sky light, the building can

achieve another advantageous. In fact, this

strategy can prepare natural ventilation at the

building.

Figure 1: The exterior surface from Onder

commercial building (Taken by author 2014)

Figure 2: The roof view from Onder commercial

building (Taken by author 2014)

Figure 3: The interior view from Onder commercial



A not suitable window on the south facade is

another important matter that understandable

from personal observation. Having a large area

of windows at south façade in the building is one

significant guideline of passive solar energy. In

addition, with using of double or triple glazed

windows, the commercial building minimizes

the heat loss in the winter.

Figure 4: The interior view from Onder commercial


Bringing the fresh air in the commercial building

is possible by using of a correct act from natural

ventilation system. The building will achieve

proper cooling weather with suitable utilization

of parallel windows in the summer. Besides, one

suitable atrium aid to hot weather change the

situation to up and cold weather remaining in

down level.

Using balcony or shading devices in horizontal

orientation help to block penetration of solar

radiation into the commercial building in the

summer time. Therefore prepare suitable cool

indoor temperature in summer.

3.2. Analyses by maps

As maps show the exact direction of the

building, south west and south east have the best

orientation for achieving the solar radiation for

day lighting as well as heating system in winter

time (Figure 5 and Figure 6).

Figure 5: Area of study (Retrieved from Google earth

Cyprus/Famagusta/Onder commercial building/19

march, 2014) URL1

Figure 6: Sketch of the Onder commercial building

(source: Author)

Has been determined by the weather of the

Cyprus, the proper utilization of thermal mass is

on the south façade, because, the south façade

has the maximum absorbing solar radiation.

Furthermore, shading device at south facade is

the solution for prohibiting of overheating in the

summer time. And also, Glass wool is another

suitable insulation material to create comfort

temperature in the summer and winter time.


3.3. Questionnaires:

The close ended questions in the questioners

divided into five categories for finding correct

result from the employees and customers. The

questions include of satisfaction of indoor

temperature in winter, satisfaction of indoor

temperature in summer, natural light, interior

ventilation and insulation. These questions help

to perceive how people feel in the Onder

commercial building and what passive

guidelines help to the building to improve.

3.4. Interview

Interviews prepare to attain efficient information

for better condition of passive solar design at

Cyprus buildings. In fact, it helps the author to

perceive how the passive strategies can work at

Onder commercial building.

4. Data evaluation

Preparing suitable condition in the building is a

vital factor for the commercial building. With

correct use of passive design strategies,

customers spend more time at the commercial

building. Therefore it can be one positive point

for financial subject. In fact, one comfort

condition prepares with some items like

appropriate indoor temperature, correct use of

natural lighting, proper indoor ventilation, etc.

4.1. Suitable indoor temperature in summer

Based on the following charts, it can be

understood that the most of people are not

satisfied from indoor temperature at hot weather

in the summer time.

Figure 7: hot feeling at winter time

Sun shading, trees and plants can help to the

building to prepare a better condition for

activity. The next chart shows result of having

suitable sun shading device on the commercial

building. As a result of the chart (Figure 8), it is

understandable that building does not have any

suitable sun shading devices.

Figure 8: Existing sun shading

In the next chart (Figure 9), it can be understood

just five people from twenty people are

approximately satisfied of indoor temperature in

the commercial building during the summer

time.

Figure 9: Hot feeling at winter time


This building will be better to use proper sun

shading devices. Trees and plants in the east and

west orientation for avoiding penetration of solar

radiation is another effective solution for

suitable weather in summer

4.2 Suitable indoor temperatures in winter

Feeling comfort in the cold seasons of the year is

one important factor for designing public

buildings such as commercial buildings. As the

following charts (Figure 10), most of the people

12 out of 20 are not satisfied of the interior

weather in the winter.

Figure10: Cold feeling at winter time

Double and triple glazed windows and triple

glazed windows can help to achieve better

indoor condition in winter time. As the

following chart (Figure 11), the windows do not

adequate with energy efficiency.

Figure.11: Design of windows based on energy

efficiency

4.3 Natural lighting

Nobody can ever deny the importance of natural

light in the human health. Commercial buildings

can have properly natural lighting with correct

use of the passive solar energy strategies.

Natural light is necessary for public building like

commercial building, because the natural light

increases comfort zone for costumers and

specially employees that work these buildings.

In addition, the commercial buildings can

decrease the energy consumption by using

natural light instead of artificial light. And also,

designing in this way has financial advantageous

for the commercial buildings. As it was

determined by personal observation, the Onder

commercial building is using a lot of artificial

lighting. Based on following chart

(Figure 12), 14 out of 20 are not satisfied of

natural lighting, the reason for this is the

orientation of the building. It should be east-

west axis. In the other word, the building does

not use correctly of south façade for achieving

the natural light.

Figure12: Dissatisfaction of natural light

4.4. Natural ventilation

According to the below charts, most of

costumers are not satisfied of natural ventilation.

This problem can be solved easily by using the

correct way of opening. The building will have

appropriate ventilation with using small

windows on the north and south facades. These

solutions help to the ventilation of commercial


building based on cross ventilation law.

Furthermore, using the atrium creates fresh air in

the building, and also the building can use of the

atrium for penetration the natural light in the

building.

As a result of the following chart (Figure 13), 13

out of 20 are not satisfied of the interior natural

ventilation.

Figure13: Dissatisfaction of natural ventilation

Commercial building can create a suitable

condition with using small opening on the north

façade. Although this building has some

windows on the north façade, most of them

cannot be opened. With using them in correct

way, this method can circulate air in Onder

commercial building.

4.5. Insulation

Prohibiting heat losses is the necessary reason

for using suitable thermal insulation in the

building. However walls and floors usually act

significant role, thermal insulation should be

used at walls, roof, floors and windows.

According to the chart (Figure 14), the highest

suitable insulation existed in the wall.

Figure14: Insulation in different part of the Onder

commercial building

Conclusion

In brief, passive solar design normally takes

benefits of the building’s position, material, and

also climate to reduce the consumption of the

energy. A correct passive solar design minimizes

cooling and heating loads by using of energy

efficiency strategies. Moreover, one passive

solar commercial building applies good

strategies for having suitable natural light and

ventilation in the building.

As the questioners explained the natural interior

ventilation is not suitable for people in the

Onder commercial building. Also, there is not

completely satisfying of the indoor weather in

the summer and winter. Dissatisfying of natural

light is another result from the questioners.

With doing some logical measures of the passive

solar energy, the commercial building will have

an appropriate natural light. The orientation of

the building and correct use of south facade for

windows are the solutions for having proper

natural light and suitable interior weather in

winter in the building. With using the principal

windows on the south facade, minimizing the

openings in the east and west facade, and also by

using double or triple glazed windows, the

building will achieve a comfort condition in

winter season. With using appropriate sun

shading, plants and trees on the west and east

part of the building for prevention of solar


radiation, the building will have comfort indoor

weather in summer.

At last but not least, appropriated interior

ventilation is achievable by correct using of

small openings on the north facade of the

commercial building. Although the Onder

commercial building has some windows on the

north facade, most of them cannot be opened.

By using them in a correct way, this method can

circulate air in Onder commercial building.

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URL1: https://maps.google.com

Passive Solar Energy Efficiency in Onder Commercial Building, Famagusta

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