Document Type : Research paper
Authors
1
1School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology ,University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jgbd.2026.402145.1004
Abstract
Objective: We used DesignBuilder to examine how building orientation and external-envelope design affect the energy performance of a residential building.
Method: We modeled a single-story, 32 m² residential unit in the Mediterranean climate of San Francisco, California. The HVAC system combined four-pipe fan-coil units, an air-cooled chiller, and a gas-fired boiler. We compared five orientations: north, east, south, west, and 30° east of south (150° azimuth). To isolate the effect of orientation, we kept construction materials, HVAC settings, ventilation rates, occupancy schedules, and thermal-comfort criteria unchanged in all cases.
Results: The 150° configuration produced the lowest annual site-energy use, at 1,754.5 kWh, with an energy use intensity (EUI) of 54.83 kWh/m². The south-facing case ranked second, with an EUI of 56.10 kWh/m² and annual consumption of 1,795.17 kWh. We also estimated 4,245.1 kgCO₂ of embodied carbon for the modeled building materials and 4,416.0 kgCO₂eq of total greenhouse-gas emissions.
Conclusions: Our results show that orientation and envelope design work best when considered together. A modest rotation from due south toward the southeast improved energy performance under the studied climate. For residential design in similar conditions, this finding supports an integrated approach that combines orientation, envelope performance, and HVAC planning.
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