The impact of using semi-transparent photovoltaic in Office building facades on improving indoor thermal performance in Egypt

Abstract

Energy crisis is considered one of the momentous issues that facing Egypt today. The annual rate of energy consumption in Egypt increased rabidly within the last two decades until it exceeded 165%. The main factor caused this significant increase of the energy consumption in Egypt is trying to compensate the negative consequences of industrial revolution in terms of indoor thermal comfort. Because of Industrial revolution, the availability of glass increased and new construction materials emerged such as steel and concrete. Using those new construction materials allowed highly glazed buildings to be realized. The large glazing areas of building envelope affected the indoor thermal comfort negatively in hot climates such as Egypt. It became challenging for these climates to avoid overheat occurring in summer and to keep heat in winter. As a result, achieving thermal comfort became depending mainly on the extensive using of mechanical methods thus overconsumption of energy. This incontrollable energy consumption affected the environment negatively due to the increasing level of pollution and carbon emissions.