The synergistic effect of multiple design factors on building energy consumption of office blocks: A case study of Wuhan, China

Abstract

Design factors such as block morphology, building form and building envelope performance are key parameters affecting building energy consumption of urban blocks. However, the synergistic effect of multi-design factors on building energy consumption has not been studied in detail. This paper aims to investigate the synergistic effect of multi-design factors on building energy consumption of office blocks in Wuhan, China. This study employs field survey, satellite map and open street map to extract the typical building forms and construct parametric models of office blocks. Then, 81 representative scenarios considering the synergy of multiple design factors in office blocks are built. Then, based on the Rhino & Grasshopper parametric platform, a building energy assessment tool that considers the synergistic effect of multiple design factors is developed to simulate and record the building energy consumption of each scenarios. Finally, the synergistic effect of multi-design parameters on building energy consumption of office blocks is quantified using correlation and multiple linear regression methods. The findings reveal that the synergistic effect of multi-design factors on building energy consumption is 18.53%. Building energy consumption for high-rise pavilion typology is saved by 9.64% than multi-storey courtyard. The key design parameter combinations affecting building energy consumption in office block are building shape factor, solar heat gain coefficient, wall K-value, building width and window-wall ratio of west and east. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the synergistic effects of multiple design parameters on building energy consumption in office blocks and presents a scalable model that can be applied globally to promote sustainable urban development.