Impact of urban densification on building energy consumption

¹ College of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China
² library, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China
³ Civil & Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

^* Corresponding author: coffeevc@xauat.edu.cn

Abstract

The close layout of buildings is an important cause of urban densification. It makes solar radiation and long-wave radiation being blocked, scattered, and reflected multiple times. Radiant heat is a key factor affecting building energy consumption. The formation mechanism of urban radiation field in the spaces surrounded by dense buildings was analysed. Calculation models were established for the intensity of short-wave and long-wave radiations in spaces surrounded by dense buildings. Characteristics of the radiation field in the enclosed space was analysed. Two typical cities were selected for the analysis of the impact of urban densification on building energy consumption in the hot summer and warm winter zones of China. Studies have shown that the cooling energy consumption of residential buildings in enclosed space can be reduced by 7-15% compared with open space in China's hot summer and warm winter areas. This research will lay the foundation for urban design and architectural design.