In subtropical Hong Kong, solar heat gain via glazing contributes to a significant proportion of the building envelope cooling load. The principal fenestration design includes eliminating direct sunlight and reducing cooling requirements. Daylighting is an effective approach to allow a flexible...

Daylighting is an important issue in modern architecture that has been characterized by the use of curtain walls in commercial buildings. In Hong Kong, the overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) calculations are mandatory requirements in the submission of building plans to control the building...

Principal component analysis of prevailing weather conditions in subtropical Hong Kong was conducted, and a new climatic index Z (as a function of the dry-bulb temperature, wet-bulb temperature and global solar radiation) determined for past (1979–2008, measurements made at local...

Daylighting has long been recognized as a potential energy-efficient design strategy for buildings. Natural light can help reduce the electrical demand and the associated sensible cooling load due to artificial lighting. In Hong Kong, however, many buildings are constructed close to each other...

Past and future trends of human comfort in terms of heat and cold stresses under the local subtropical climates using measured meteorological data as well as predictions from general climate models were investigated. Summer discomfort showed an increasing trend (and winter discomfort a...