Thermal performance of residential buildings in Lisbon with large glazing areas

This work presents the results of an experimental study of residential buildings (multi-family apartments) with glazing areas greater than 75% of the total façade area, and for different solar exposures in Lisbon. These buildings were designed after the implementation of the first Portuguese Buildings Thermal Regulation and they are intrinsically related with the construction and architecture practiced in the last few years. The analysis includes the thermal behaviour of the apartments selected for the study during the summer (2007) and winter (2007-2008). During the monitoring process important data were obtained to assist in the understanding of the thermal performance of the observed units. The main thermal exchanges in a building generally take place through the transparent elements and these can be considered an element of great flexibility and adaptation to climatic variations. The mean of the interior temperature means in the different monitored compartments during the hot season was approximately 27ºC (some cases close to 29ºC), while in the cold season 21ºC (some cases close to 18ºC)