Optimising Window-to-Wall Ratio for Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Building Intelligence in Hot Summer Mediterranean Climates

Hawar Tawfeeq () and Amjad Muhammed Ali Qaradaghi
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Hawar Tawfeeq: Architectural Department, College of Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region Government, Al Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq
Amjad Muhammed Ali Qaradaghi: Architectural Department, College of Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region Government, Al Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: This study focused on optimising the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) as a design solution to reduce energy consumption and enhance building intelligence from an energy-saving perspective. It examines the impact range of the WWR in improving the energy efficiency in low-rise residential apartments in Sulaimaniyah City, which experiences a hot summer Mediterranean climate. This study employed a quantitative approach, simulating and analysing the energy consumption of the selected samples using specific tools, such as Autodesk Revit and Insight Cloud. The findings show that improving the window-to-wall ratio can significantly reduce the energy use intensity (EUI) across various building orientations. Southern-facing walls permit reductions ranging from 1.23 to 14.98 kWh/m 2 , whereas northern-facing walls show losses ranging from 2.03 to 12.98 kWh/m 2 . Similarly, western-facing walls show decreases ranging from 0.41 to 6.41 kWh/m 2 and eastern-facing walls from 1.44 to 5.59 kWh/m 2 . These energy-saving ranges improve building intelligence in terms of energy utilisation. Furthermore, the recommended WWR is 65% for southern and eastern walls and 95% and 30% for northern and western walls. This study underscores the significance of optimising the window-to-wall ratio in intelligent building design. Neglecting this can significantly impact energy use and represents a missed opportunity to improve building intelligence.

Keywords: energy efficiency; hot summer Mediterranean; intelligent building; low-rise apartments; window-to-wall ratio (WWR) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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