Influence of thermal insulation position in building envelope on the space cooling of high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong.

Looks at two residential flats in a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong using HBT2 detailed building heat transfer simulation software. It analyses the influence of the thermal insulation layer in the outside walls on the yearly cooling load and maximum cooling demand. Tall residential buildings in Hong Kong do not usually incorporate thermal insulation. The simulation predicted a maximum decrease in annual cooling load of up to 6.8%, using a 5 cm thick thermal insulation coating which faced into the flat. A higher decrease (7.3%) occurred when a 5 cm layer faced either the outside or the inside of the flat, depending on flat orientation. Weaker reductions occur with increased thickness of insulation and concrete structure.