jailcd2020080: A Review on the Application of Attached Sunspaces for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Abstract

Sustainable architecture and green building are new techniques to address the energy and environmental crises. In this regard, the Sunspaces has also attracted attention for its potential ability to address the energy and environmental crises. Sunspaces are regarded as a sustainable architectural technology for thermal insulation. This article reviews the application of attached sunspaces in buildings and the most pertinent contents of studies on sunspaces that have been carried out in various countries in the last few decades. This review discusses the characteristics of sunspaces. In terms of content, we emphasize the introduction of five groups of parameters that be considered when designing attached sunspaces: “shading devices”. “various roofs (glass) tilt angles", “orientation of sunspace", “the number of layers of glass" and “absorption coefficient for opaque walls and floors". The advantages of this sustainable architectural technology have been highlighted, and future research questions have been identified. We hope that this review is useful to academic researchers and can provide a reference for architects or related engineering designers in the field of passive/active design.