Evaluation of double-skin façade systems in the context of heating and cooling loads

Climate change-induced energy crises have prioritized energy efficiency in the building sector, which accounts for 34% of global energy demand and 37% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. A significant portion of this consumption occurs during building operation. The escalating energy demand and carbon emissions necessitate the pursuit of sustainable solutions, with energy-efficient facade systems emerging as critical under the EU's net-zero carbon strategies. Double-skin facades (DSFs), increasingly adopted in office buildings, reduce heating/cooling loads and enhance indoor comfort through optimized design strategies. This study aims to determine the optimal DSF design that contributes to reducing heating/cooling loads. An existing office building at Balıkesir University Çağış Campus was selected as a case study. Both the current single-skin façade system and various DSF configurations were modeled using the DesignBuilder program. Four design parameters—glazing type, cavity width, ventilation strategy, and orientation—were considered in the simulations. The findings were compared with the current situation, and the effects of the design parameters on energy consumption were analyzed. The results indicate that the DSF configuration, which integrates an 80 cm cavity width, low-e glass, northwest-southeast orientation, and natural ventilation, reduced heating energy demand by 50.7% relative to the baseline condition. Regarding cooling loads, an 80 cm cavity with electrochromic glass, a north-south orientation, and natural ventilation achieved a 33.64% reduction. Overall, the most effective DSF system 80-EC-KG-DH DSF decreased annual total energy consumption by 43.89%. This study underscores the decisive role of cavity width, glazing type, orientation, and ventilation strategies in DSF energy performance.