Abstract
In order to improve building energy efficiency and achieve green building performance, it is important to select suitable types of window glazing for different orientations. In this study, the effect of using six different types of double glazed windows was investigated for eight orientations. An office space located in the Mediterranean city of Tripoli, Libya was chosen as a case study. The energy consumption was calculated using the Energy Plus simulation engine. In general, the results show that using glazing with solar control provide high energy saving when compared to other types without solar control. That was true for all orientations. Reflective, absorptive, and spectrally selective window types provide high energy saving for cooling, while other types provide more energy saving for heating due to the allowance of more passive solar heating to the office space. However, the amount and percentage of energy saving various significantly for different orientations. Reflective window glazing provides a maximum energy saving of 66 kWh/m2 for southwest orientation. The amount of energy saving for east and west orientations is also important and reaches 51 and 53 kWh/m2 respectively. Highest energy saving for north orientation is 19 kWh/m2. It is concluded that the priority for using solar control windows should be given to southern orientations followed by east and west orientations due to high energy saving when compared to north orientation.