Conference Paper

Proceedings of Building Simulation 2019: 16th Conference of IBPSA

Impact of Building Form on Energy Performance in New School Models

Meriem Rahmani, Khaled A. Al-Sallal
UAE University, United Arab Emirates

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2019.210309
Abstract: This study investigates methods to optimize energy performance of school buildings by proper design of the building form. It relied on building energy simulation to evaluate the new design models proposed by Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). The investigations went through three stages, in the first one the study examined the impact of different Learning Community (LC) and Courtyard (C) aspect ratios on energy consumption. In the second stage, it examined the impact of different building heights (i.e., number of floors), when combined with LC and C variables, on energy consumption. The third stage tested the same previous variables under two different form axis directions (East-West and North-South). The results of the first stage indicate that forms with a more linear proportion of the LC and C perform better than those with a squared proportion. Moreover, linearlyproportioned Cs achieved better energy savings than linearly-proportioned LCs. Results of the second stage revealed the significance impact of the building’s vertical proportion (i.e., form verticality as represented by the number of floors) on energy reduction; the cases with two floors proved to perform better compared to those with one floor, both having the same floor area. Results of the third stage confirmed a consistent pattern with the results of the previously investigated variables at two different orientations; yet, the cases with the N-S form axis direction performed better than the cases with the E-W form axis direction.
Keywords: Energy consumption, school, building form, relative compactness
Pages: 5123 - 5129
Paper: