Experimental Study on the Thermal Behavior of Exterior Coating Textures of Building in Hot and Arid Climates
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1- Introduction: Is it not clear the scope defined in the following sentence: The sentence "However, the research related to the exterior coating texture and its effect on the energy performance of the building is insufficient".The introduction shpüuld be re-defined, it is confusing and includes many topics. My suggestion is to re-organize it mainly by dividing it: the background, which includes also the results from literature (that now is shown in the first part) and aims of the study.
2- Method: In line with what already explained about the introduction, the text of the method contains sentences that interrupt the logical sequence of the work, namely "In this paper, we investigated the effect of walls texture geometry and their ability to (...)" that is part of the scope.
In Figure 3 I don´t understand the sequence of the pictures and the authors´ intention. Please check it.
Conclusion: It should be extended, please add considerations
Author Response
Point 1: Introduction: Is it not clear the scope defined in the following sentence: The sentence "However, the research related to the exterior coating texture and its effect on the energy performance of the building is insufficient". The introduction shpüuld be re-defined, it is confusing and includes many topics. My suggestion is to re-organize it mainly by dividing it: the background, which includes also the results from literature (that now is shown in the first part) and aims of the study.
Response 1:
First, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for the time, effort, and feedback you have given us as reviewers of our research and we inform you that we agree with the critics on the need for a real redefinition of the introduction, therefore we have divided this part into several phases:
1- The background, which also includes the literature results which will be divided into three main areas: external coating, self-shading, coating colours and smart coating.
2- Aims of the study
Point 2: Method: In line with what already explained about the introduction, the text of the method contains sentences that interrupt the logical sequence of the work, namely "In this paper, we investigated the effect of walls texture geometry and their ability to (...)" that is part of the scope.
Response 2:
This point joins the previous answer, we take note of the comment of the critic and this is the reason why we tried to clarify the methodology which is divided into two stages and based on the sequence of the previous reviews. Respectively, we started by studying the effect of texture coating geometry, self-shading coating, coating colours. Then, in the second phase, we explained the process of choosing the use of natural particles (palm particle) in the material of the exterior cladding.
Point 3: In Figure 3 I don´t understand the sequence of the pictures and the authors´ intention. Please check it.
Response 3:
Figure 3, shows the selected wall surface textures for surface temperature measurements. Based on reviewer advice, we tried to clarify the figure in order to give more amplification to the research study
Point 4: Conclusion: It should be extended, please add considerations.
Response 4:
We thank you for this remark, we are totally agreed, and this is the reason why we tried to add some details to the conclusion in order to give more clarification and synthesis to this research.
Best regards
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper evaluates the effect of the wall texture coating in order to understand solar warming on the buildings and minimizes the short wave solar radiation for decreasing wall surface temperature. It is relevant in hot ardi climate suche as Constantine (Algeria) where the experiment was done.
The Algerian built heritage requires a correct interpretation of the effect of solar radiation on the buildings envelope. This study provides an original contribution.
Some suggestions
the sentences in line from 45 to 55 are without references
the figures (like figure1) could be free of copyright
The references are too "local".
Many other studies have been conducted such as:
Gagliano A., Nocera, F., Patania, F., Moschella, A., Detommaso, M., Evola, G., Synergic effects of thermal mass and natural ventilation on the thermal behaviour of traditional massive buildings, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY. - ISSN 1478-646X. - 35 (5)(2014), pp. 411-428.
Nocera F., Lo Faro A., Costanzo V., Raciti C., Daylight Performance of Classrooms in a Mediterranean School Heritage Building, Sustainability 2018, 10, 3705; doi:10.3390/su10103705.
Author Response
This paper evaluates the effect of the wall texture coating in order to understand solar warming on the buildings and minimizes the short wave solar radiation for decreasing wall surface temperature. It is relevant in hot arid climate such as Constantine (Algeria) where the experiment was done.
The Algerian built heritage requires a correct interpretation of the effect of solar radiation on the buildings envelope. This study provides an original contribution.
Some suggestions:
Point 1: The sentences in line from 45 to 55 are without references
Point 2: The figures (like figure1) could be free of copyright
Point 3: The references are too "local".
Point 4: Many other studies have been conducted such as:
Gagliano A., Nocera, F., Patania, F., Moschella, A., Detommaso, M., Evola, G., Synergic effects of thermal mass and natural ventilation on the thermal behaviour of traditional massive buildings, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY. - ISSN 1478-646X. - 35 (5)(2014), pp. 411-428.
Nocera, F.; Lo Faro, A.; Costanzo, V.; Raciti, C. Daylight Performance of Classrooms in a Mediterranean School Heritage Building. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103705
Response:
First, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for the time, effort, and feedback you have given us as reviewers of our research and we inform you that we agree with the critics on the points mentioned above:
Point 1: The introduction part from line 45 to line 55 is taken from the book "Biopolymers and Biotech Admixtures for Eco-Efficient Construction Materials" by editors: Fernando Pacheco-Torgal Volodymyr Ivanov Niranjan Karak Henk Jonkers.
Referecne :
Pacheco-Torgal, F.; Jonkers, H. M.; Karak N.; Ivanov V. Introduction to biopolymers and biotech admixtures for eco-efficient construction materials. in their book Biopolymers and Biotech Admixtures for Eco-Efficient Construction Materials, Woodhead Publishing Edition, Cambridge, England, 2016.
Point 2: Concerning figures, which could be free of copyright, we agree with this remark, and this is the reason why we totally changed the content of the figure 1, we put photos captured by the authors in order to show the traditional wall texture design in the south of Algeria.
Point 3: We thank you for this point, we are totally agreed. Therefore, we have divided references into several main areas: external coating, self-shading, coating colours and coating components. Based on these axes, we tried to make a global redefinition with references from different regions and climatic zones such as the two references suggested above.
Best regards
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Appropriate integration, in this form the paper can be published.
