ABSTRACT
The problem of thermal comfort has been the major challenge faced by most office
buildings. The effect of these could lead to stress, pains and reduction of work efficiency
of office workers. Office buildings are considered among the most architectural buildings
that consume more energy to provide comfort all year round. One of the major factors
affecting the thermal comfort of office buildings is their form. It has a great effect on the
heating and cooling loads of a building. Hence, the research seeks to evaluate the thermal
performance of different geometrical forms of cone, cube, cuboid, pyramid, and cylinder
to see their response to energy loads. The research aims to reach to the best possible form
which presents the high thermal performance in order to use it in office buildings in hot
humid area of Lafia. The analysis is carried out using the computer program ECOTECT.
The results indicate that the cube form receives the least amount of fabric heat gain on the
hottest day, while the cone form is best in terms of direct solar heat gains and the cuboid
in terms of Sol-Air (opaque Surfaces). In the area of annual cooling loads, the cylinder
form performs best followed by the cone. For the amount of solar energy received by the
forms, the cone is the least followed by cylinder, cuboid and cube. Energy consumption
can be reduced by choosing Double Glazed Low-E material for windows with window to
wall ratio (WWR) 40%. The research concluded that different building forms having the
same area, volume and envelope materials respond differently to energy loads due to their
surface configuration. Ultimately, the cylindrical form is the most suitable form within
the context of this research. The research recommends applying thermal comfort design
strategies for achieving comfort in hot humid areas, especially with regard to geometric
form and envelope material composition in the first stage of the design process.
The problem of thermal comfort has been the major challenge faced by most office
buildings. The effect of these could lead to stress, pains and reduction of work efficiency
of office workers. Office buildings are considered among the most architectural buildings
that consume more energy to provide comfort all year round. One of the major factors
affecting the thermal comfort of office buildings is their form. It has a great effect on the
heating and cooling loads of a building. Hence, the research seeks to evaluate the thermal
performance of different geometrical forms of cone, cube, cuboid, pyramid, and cylinder
to see their response to energy loads. The research aims to reach to the best possible form
which presents the high thermal performance in order to use it in office buildings in hot
humid area of Lafia. The analysis is carried out using the computer program ECOTECT.
The results indicate that the cube form receives the least amount of fabric heat gain on the
hottest day, while the cone form is best in terms of direct solar heat gains and the cuboid
in terms of Sol-Air (opaque Surfaces). In the area of annual cooling loads, the cylinder
form performs best followed by the cone. For the amount of solar energy received by the
forms, the cone is the least followed by cylinder, cuboid and cube. Energy consumption
can be reduced by choosing Double Glazed Low-E material for windows with window to
wall ratio (WWR) 40%. The research concluded that different building forms having the
same area, volume and envelope materials respond differently to energy loads due to their
surface configuration. Ultimately, the cylindrical form is the most suitable form within
the context of this research. The research recommends applying thermal comfort design
strategies for achieving comfort in hot humid areas, especially with regard to geometric
form and envelope material composition in the first stage of the design process.
