Exploring the Influence of Reflectivity and Emissivity on Energy Consumption Across Varied Climate Zones in India

Abstract

With a particular emphasis on sustainability, this research investigates the influence of reflectance and emissivity qualities on the amount of energy used by residential buildings of a mid-rise height located in various temperature zones in India. In the first part of the study, the impacts of highly reflecting, cool roofs were evaluated using base case and proposed simulations. In the second phase, a comparison was made between the possible energy savings that may be obtained by switching from low to high solar reflective roofs. An analysis of the reflectance and emissivity characteristics of the roof was carried out with the assistance of the eQUEST simulation tool. The study findings were validated using the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) schedule for the residential building energy labeling program. According to the results, highly reflecting roofs, which have a reflectivity of 0.8 and an emissivity of 0.9, dramatically lowered cooling loads by 38% and 20% in hot and dry areas, 21–25% in composite climates, 17–25% in warm and humid climates, and 37% in colder climates. These cost-effective solutions could be applied to existing and new constructions and have the potential to provide large energy and monetary savings by improving the performance of the building envelope, which in turn contributes to efforts to make the building more environmentally friendly.