Solar access in the urban space: energy simulations for its mitigation in residential high-rise buildings. Santiago Centro Sur

Abstract

Real state high-rise and high-density buildings block solar access and limit thermal and lighting conditions for human life in cities. Urban renewal is part of the transformation of cities, but high plot occupation should be regulated due to urban environmental problems derived from business as usual. The objective of this paper is to explore some alternatives of site occupation considering regulatory parameters of Regulatory Plans and its solar access effects on the urban space. The methodology takes into account energy simulations of the urban form to get as a result a method that relates regulations and solar energy assessment. It compares solar gains and losses for the urban space (street and facades) in different morphology scenarios. The method explores parameters such as height and distance between buildings in high-rise residential quarters to mitigate solar externalities on neighbours. Conclusions show that it is feasible to mitigate solar access through changes on street width (W) and building height (H). In other words, the relation H/W is more relevant than height per se. Thus, this study aims to contribute with proposals to the new Chilean Law of Contributions to Public Space.