CHANGE OF FACADE PATTERN AND FACADE MATERIAL FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN THE CLIMATIC CONTEXT OF DHAKA, BANGLADESH

The research focuses the importance of energy efficient buildings in the climatic context of Dhaka to reduce the electricity consumption through decreased use of air conditioning units in commercial buildings. The focus has been facilitated by the fact that change of building façade materials and façade patterns can have a significant contribution in reducing the cooling demand of a building. And the fact has been represented in the research through a comparison on the basis of annual electricity consumption and annual cooling load demand of four building orientations, likely- a typical concrete façade, a single glass façade and a totally new concept of building façade in Bangladesh named as ‘Double Glass Façade’ including its two ventilation techniques as well as relevant theories. As, the trend for glass buildings in Dhaka city is growing day-by-day, the need for electricity and cooling requirements are also in an increase. The research shows that only shifting from single façade to double façade, 37% of the cooling load of a twelve storied building may reduce whereas 47% of electricity consumption reduces while using double façade compared to a typical concrete façade.