Speaker
Description
Climate change poses significant challenges to the built environment, particularly in tropical regions such as Ghana, where rising temperatures threaten the thermal performance and energy efficiency of office buildings. This study investigated the thermal performance of office buildings in Kumasi under future climatic data. The performance of the building is analyzed for both current and projected future climate data and mitigation strategies are further explored. This was done using climate models and building performance simulation tools to project future climatic conditions of 2050 and 2080 from current ones. This study applied the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 1-2.6 scenario to make its future climatic projections. An existing office complex was developed into a parametric simulation model using Rhinoceros 3D-Grasshopper and validated against measured energy data. In assessing the walling material performance, rammed earth and timber walls were considered with the conventional sandcrete blocks. In 2050, the predicted mean vote (PMV) percentile values range from 0.46 in August to 0.73 in February with minimal variations occurring in 2080 as they range from 0.49 to 0.77. For future projections, the alternative materials reduced cooling demand by 15–20%, lowered PPD by up to 20%, and maintained PMV values within or closer to the neutral comfort range, highlighting the need for passive design measures and considerations to adopt alternative walling materials to improve energy efficiency and enhance occupant comfort. The findings highlight the need for passive design strategies, material innovation, and climate-responsive planning to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable office building design in Ghana. This study contributes to the discourse on climate adaptation in the built environment and supports policy development toward energy-efficient construction practices.
Keywords: Climate change, Thermal performance, Passive design, Energy efficiency, Simulation.