Effect of solar absorptivity and emissivity of exterior surfaces on the thermal performance of a building

The effects of the solar absorptivity and the thermal emissivity of exterior building surfaces on the indoor air temperature of a one room building are evaluated in terms of the discomfort index. The thermal performance of the building has been investigated for four different climates prevalent in India, namely, composite (New Delhi), hot and dry (Jodhpur), cold and humid (Srinagar), and cold and dry (Leh).

The results confirm the common-sense view that the building surface should have low solar absorptivity and high thermal emissivity in hot climates and high solar absorptivity and low thermal emissivity in cold climates for indoor thermal comfort conditions.