SIMBAÑA ESCOBAR, PATRICIO RAFAEL
Preferred name
SIMBAÑA ESCOBAR, PATRICIO RAFAEL
Main Affiliation
LL LIMINAL LAB – Narrativas espaciales y temporales
Web Site
Scopus Author ID
60148382600
1 results
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
- Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Comparative Thermal Performance and Return on Investment of Glazing Configurations in Building Envelopes: The Case of the Plataforma Gubernamental Norte in Quito, Ecuador(MDPI AG, 2025-09-30); ; Glazed façades play a decisive role in building energy performance, particularly in high-radiation equatorial climates. This study examines the thermal behavior and economic feasibility of three glazing systems—10 mm monolithic clear glass, laminated solar-control glass, and selective double glazing—applied to the Plataforma Gubernamental Norte, the largest institutional building in Ecuador. Dynamic simulations using DesignBuilder with the EnergyPlus engine assessed solar gains, HVAC demand, and operative temperatures, complemented by a sensitivity analysis of SHGC, U-value, and Tvis. Results indicate that selective double glazing reduced annual HVAC consumption by 78.21% (110.6 MWh), while laminated glazing achieved a 55.40% reduction. SHGC and U-value emerged as the most influential parameters, whereas Tvis had no impact on energy loads. Despite strong technical performance, the economic analysis revealed payback periods exceeding 235 years under Ecuador’s subsidized tariff (USD 0.10/kWh), compared to the 18–25 years commonly observed in Europe. This highlights the “efficiency paradox”: advanced glazing solutions deliver significant energy savings but remain financially unfeasible in subsidy-driven contexts. The findings underscore the need for policy reforms to better align façade design strategies with energy resilience, an issue particularly relevant after Ecuador’s 2024 electricity crisis and ongoing debates on subsidy elimination.