Typically, buildings are predominantly
influenced by their exteriors, wherein the heat gain/loss
through the envelope surpasses the internal heat
generation (Givoni 1998). The building envelope's
significance lies in its potential to contribute up to 73%
of the total heat gain/loss (DOE 2004). Therefore,
energy-efficient building envelopes can mitigate reliance
on fossil fuels and minimize environmental pollution.
This paper investigates the thermal performance of a
hotel's envelope in Matheran concerning energy
efficiency. As Matheran's tourism revolves around its
pristine environment, preserving its quality necessitates
environmentally sustainable development and
operations. Consequently, the adoption of green
measures becomes crucial, particularly in existing hotel
envelopes, as new constructions are prohibited in
Matheran.
To achieve this, understanding heat gain parameters
based on the material characteristics of different
envelopes becomes paramount. The primary objective is
to conduct a comparative analysis of two distinct
building envelopes within a Matheran hotel: the
traditional load-bearing Laterite stone construction and
the contemporary RCC framed brick structure. The aim
is to identify the most energy-efficient option based on
their potential for energy savings. Both envelopes
undergo thermal performance simulation modeling
using ECOTECT and eQUEST software. The analysis of
the simulations reveals that the traditional construction's
building envelope exhibits superior thermal
performance, thus rendering it more energy-efficient.
Furthermore, the study proposes enhancing the energy
efficiency of the contemporary envelope by modifying its
roof, wall, and fenestration properties. The proposed
modifications are then subjected to simulation to
determine their impact on thermal performance and
potential for improved energy efficiency.