A shading device is integrated into a building in reducing the indoor solar heat gained. However, the incorporation of a shading device into an opening provides certain effects on indoor natural ventilation. Its performance in enhancing the indoor airflow is still arguable. For this reason, a comprehensive review was executed to identify the effects of a shading device on the natural ventilation of a building. A schematic review process was executed to identify the published articles that were related to the shading devices at the building openings. Subsequently, 25 articles have examined the shading devices at the building openings. The output parameters that were discussed including, the solar heat gained, temperature, energy consumption, daylighting, air quality, airflow, and thermal comfort. The studies agree that the shading device has certain effects on indoor airflow. The effects can be either good or detrimental, depending on the climatic condition, geographical location, building orientation, opening configuration, the shading function, and configuration. It is hoped that this review encourages more investigations of the combined effects of the shading device on solar radiation and natural ventilation. The combined effects are essential in achieving optimum performance of a shading device, which can reduce the solar radiation penetration and enhance the indoor natural ventilation. Highlights

Purpose The requirement of indoor thermal comfort in building is crucial, including the religious building such as mosque, which accommodates high occupancy level due to the congregational prayer. With this condition, the application of air conditioning system in a mosque is common, especially the modern mosque in hot climate where the layout plan is more complex compared to the vernacular mosque. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether the modern mosque design is able to provide the required indoor thermal comfort condition in tropical climate. Design/Methodology/Approach The National University of Malaysia’s mosque was selected for the study. Two research methodologies were conducted concurrently, which were the field measurement and the questionnaire survey. The purpose of conducting these two methods was to compare the indoor thermal condition with the actual thermal sensation and satisfaction of the users. Both methods had been executed for four days, and there were 120 respondents who had participated in the survey. Findings The findings indicated that most users felt neutral thermal sensation only during the morning hours which was at the indoor operative temperature range of 28.5 °C to 30.1 °C. Meanwhile in the afternoon and late afternoon hours, where the indoor operative temperature was more than 30 °C, majority of them felt slightly warm. Despite that, they still voted for neutral or satisfied feeling during the afternoon and the late afternoon hours. Research Limitations/Implications The limitations in the study were the field measurement duration which was four days only and the location of the measuring tool which was at the prayer hall of the first floor level. Originality/Value The findings of this study can be used as a guidance in providing a modern mosque design that has good response to the tropical climate. This study also helps to embark other investigations in the future by using other methodologies such as numerical simulation and experiment.

Nearly zero-energy-consumption buildings are the inevitable trend of future buildings. There have been a large number of studies on nearly zero building technology issues. However, there is no detailed study on how to effectively promote the development of nearly zero-energy consumption buildings according to China’s national conditions. Here, by establishing an evolutionary game model, this paper discusses the dynamic game scheme selection and stability strategy of three stakeholders, namely local government, real estate companies, and construction consumers, related to the development of nearly zero-energy-consumption buildings in the development process. The conditions required for evolutionary stabilization strategies were identified. Finally, Matlab data simulation analysis is used to further illustrate the stability and equilibrium strategies of each subject and the sensitivity analysis of the main influencing factors at various stages in the development process of nearly zero-energy-consuming buildings. The research results show that the government plays a leading role in the early stage of the development of nearly zero-energy consumption buildings, and as the market matures, government intervention gradually withdraws from the market; furthermore, if the cost of supervision is prohibitively high, the government’s willingness to supervise the market will be reduced. This will hinder consumers and developers from choosing nearly zero-energy-consuming buildings and if the penalties and subsidies are too low, it will be meaningless to the evolution of the optimal solution of the three parties. On this basis, targeted promotion programs are established to realize the rapid development of China’s nearly zero-energy-consumption building sector. Our research results can provide important scientific basis for the development of the nearly zero-energy building industry in China.

The consideration of local climate is essential for the application of atrium in building. Different strategies and approaches in atrium configuration are required for different climates in ensuring its effectiveness. Nevertheless, the final aim is still similar which is to provide a comfortable environment for the users. Hence, this study was executed to examine the effects of top and side configurations on the indoor thermal environment of semi-enclosed atrium in the tropical climate. The methodologies involved field measurement and questionnaire survey. The field measurements were executed at two different configurations of semi-enclosed atriums in the tropical climate of Malaysia. Meanwhile, the questionnaire surveys were executed simultaneously with the field measurements in obtaining the users’ thermal sensation and satisfaction. The findings indicated that the top configuration had more influence to the indoor thermal environment compared to the side configuration as it determined the amount of solar heat penetration into the atrium area. Meanwhile, the side configuration influenced the air velocity inside the atrium. The Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment’s atrium that has opaque top finishes was found to have the average indoor operative temperature of less than 30 °C throughout the day, though the average outdoor air temperature was more than 30 °C. It also had more hours with neutral thermal sensation felt by the users compared to the Faculty of Economics and Management’s atrium that has transparent materials for the top finishes. The study is useful in guiding the selection of appropriate strategy for an atrium in tropical climate