Thermal Environment and Energy Performance of a Typical Classroom Building in a Hot-Humid Region: A Case Study in Guangzhou, China

Buildings and the construction sector account substantially for global energy consumption. In hot-humid areas of China, suboptimal thermal comfort in classrooms has heightened their cooling load It is necessary to renovate buildings outdated code according current weather conditions save energy. This study thus aimed examine effects such designs on load, based an actual classroom building during summers southern China. Using air temperature PMV values evaluate comfort, this conducted simulation through EnergyPlus DesignBuilder. The resultant updated typical meteorological year (TMY) monthly hourly analyses indoor revealed persistent overheating. To mitigate numerous design variables were investigated: space form, roofing, external walls, windows, shading devices. Evaluative comparisons found that appropriate choice windows devices represented two most effective strategies mitigating load. Furthermore, jointly applying retrofit yielded a favorable reduction annual consumption by 16.6%. findings herein are envisioned provide evidence-based referential guidance climate.