Window components' heat control versus orientation under the extreme hot climate of the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the world's largest energy consumption per capita, with the building sector accounting for 70% of the consumed energy, used primarily for cooling due to its extreme hot climate. Recently, the government launched several housing programs intended to meet the need of future Emirati beneficiaries, of which the Emirati Family Housing Program aims at providing 13,000 detached residential units by 2017. Orientation of typical housing design is solely governed by urban planning layout. More critically, windows did not show any adapted heat control treatment in relation to orientation, despite the windows significant impact on heat gains under the local extreme hot climate. This study aims at optimizing the thermal performance of the window's components in relation to orientation in a typical house. The impact of orientation in the exsiting design indicated a 10% higher energy consumption for the west-oriented units compared to the east ones. Thereafter, the impact of window's components including glass (double reflective glass, double tinted Low-E and double squared Low-E), frame (vinyl) and a shading device (automated slated blinds) were tested. The best performing components were then combined into two scenarios: the first one included a vinyl frame and double tinted squared Low-E glass and the second had Low-E glass, vinyl frame and automated slatted blinds. The results indicated a reduction of the total annual energy consumption ranging between around 6% when facing east and 13% when facing west. More importantly, the optimal window components highlighted similar performance independently from orientation.