It is estimated that windows in office buildings are responsible for one third of energy used
for their heating and cooling. Designing window shading that balances often contradictory goals
of preventing excessive heat gains in hot periods without compromising beneficial heat gains
in cold periods or visual comfort in indoor spaces of modern buildings with highly glazed
facades is an interesting multi-objective optimisation problem that represents an active
research topic in the field of building energy and daylighting. Window overhangs are the
simplest and most traditional shading devices that are easy to install highly cost-effective
require low or no maintenance and offer unobstructed views outside. This book provides a review
of overhang design methods for optimal thermal and daylighting performance. It starts with a
historical overview of methods based on solar positions and shading masks. Next it discusses
current research methodology including shading calculation methods ways of quantifying
thermal and daylighting overhang effectiveness and the use of multi-objective optimisation
approaches together with the case studies that employ them. It further covers methods for
designing innovative overhang types such as NURBS outlined overhangs and PV integrated dynamic
overhangs. The appendix classifies published overhang case studies according to major climate
type and latitude of their locations. As such the book presents a valuable resource for
understanding subtle nuances of interaction between solar radiation shading devices and indoor
comfort. The intended target audience are building energy researchers interested in
optimisation of window shading devices.
