Taking part in the formulation of "the Standard for Chinese Hotel Air-Conditioning Energy Consumption

" the authors study the thermal characteristics and carry out dynamic simulation of annual air-conditioning(heating) energy consumption of six well-known hotels located in Beijing

Shanghai and Guangzhon. This paper particularly analyses how the architectural design and the thermal characteristics (including building orientation

building plane

wal lstructure

window area and structure) effect air-conditioning load and air-conditioning energy consumption. Some views and suggestions on methods of architectural design are put forward

which aim to reduce energy costs

capital costs

and space requirement.