The effect of the Athens heat island on air conditioning load

The effect of the summer heat island of the western part of the Greater Athens area on cooling energy and peak power is investigated using the building energy estimating software DOE2.1.E [DOE2.1.E Userʹs Guide, Lawrence Berkely Lab., CA, USA] and measured values of temperature and other meteorological data at selected sites. A very large difference between the cooling energy and peak power in the western Greater Athens area on one hand and the eastern edge of the heat island on the other hand, is evidenced for the year 1997. The difference is shown to be smaller for the year 1998 though, which was characterized by an exceptionally hot summer, which apparently affected the eastern part of the Greater Athens area more than the western part. The calculations made based on the typical meteorological year of Athens without taking the heat island related effects into account are shown to underestimate both energy consumption and peak power.