| Keywords |
Building morphology ; Heating and Cooling Energy ; Building Energy Performance |
| Abstract |
This study was conducted to quantify the impact of building space configuration on the heating and cooling energy consumption of buildings. Employing the eQuest simulation tool, a series of parametric simulations was performed to calculate the energy consumption of diverse buildings' floor areas, space volumes, and numbers of floors. A typical two-story single-family residential building in the two climate zones - the cold and hot/humid regions - in the U.S. was modeled using the simulation tool. The analysis of the simulation results revealed that the heating energy in the coldclimate region was the most significantly used energy component. Thus, the application of an energy-efficient heating system is required. In addition, the building's floor area, volume of space, and number of floors were proportional to the amount of heating and cooling energy consumed. Therefore, the optimal planning of a building in terms of energy saving is required for improving the building's energy efficiency. |