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Sensitivity Analysis of Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Cold Semi-Arid Climates

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  • Waqas Ahmed Mahar

    (Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
    Department of Architecture, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Airport Road, Baleli 87100, Quetta, Pakistan)

  • Griet Verbeeck

    (Faculty of Architecture and Arts, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium)

  • Sigrid Reiter

    (LEMA, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium)

  • Shady Attia

    (Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium)

Abstract

Buildings are significant drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Improving the thermal comfort of occupants in free-running buildings and avoiding active and fossil fuel-based systems is the main challenge in many cities worldwide. However, the impacts of passive design measures on thermal comfort in cold semi-arid regions are seldom studied. With the rapid urbanization and the widespread use of personalised heating and cooling systems, there is a need to inform building designers and city authorities about passive design measures that can achieve nearly optimal conditions. Therefore, in this study, a global sensitivity analysis of the impact of passive design parameters on adaptive comfort in cold semi-arid climates was conducted. A representative residential building was simulated and calibrated in Quetta, Pakistan, to identify key design parameters for optimal thermal comfort. The results list and rank a set of passive design recommendations that can be used widely in similar climates. The results show that among the investigated 21 design variables, the insulation type of roof is the most influential design variable. Overall, the sensitivity analysis yielded new quantitative and qualitative knowledge about the passive design of buildings with personalised heating systems, but the used sensitivity analysis has some limitations. Finally, this study provides evidence-based and informed design recommendations that can serve architects and homeowners to integrate passive design measures at the earliest conceptual design phases in cold semi-arid climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Griet Verbeeck & Sigrid Reiter & Shady Attia, 2020. "Sensitivity Analysis of Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Cold Semi-Arid Climates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1091-:d:316090
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Paola Vargas & Leon Hamui, 2021. "Thermal Energy Performance Simulation of a Residential Building Retrofitted with Passive Design Strategies: A Case Study in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Mohamed Elhadi Matallah & Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Mushk Bughio & Djamel Alkama & Atef Ahriz & Soumia Bouzaher, 2021. "Prediction of Climate Change Effect on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Arid Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Mushk Bughio & Thorsten Schuetze & Waqas Ahmed Mahar, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Indoor Environmental Quality of Architectural Campus Buildings’ Lecture Halls and its’ Perception by Building Users, in Karachi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-29, April.
    4. Ahsan Waqar & Idris Othman & Nasir Shafiq & Hasim Altan & Bertug Ozarisoy, 2023. "Modeling the Effect of Overcoming the Barriers to Passive Design Implementation on Project Sustainability Building Success: A Structural Equation Modeling Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, June.
    5. Mushk Bughio & Swati Bahale & Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Thorsten Schuetze, 2022. "Parametric Performance Analysis of the Cooling Potential of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchangers in Hot and Humid Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Ning Li & Zhechen Peng & Jian Dai & Ziwei Li, 2022. "Performance-Oriented Passive Design Strategies for Shape and Envelope Structure of Independent Residential Buildings in Yangtze River Delta Suburbs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Balali, Amirhossein & Yunusa-Kaltungo, Akilu & Edwards, Rodger, 2023. "A systematic review of passive energy consumption optimisation strategy selection for buildings through multiple criteria decision-making techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    8. Atef Ahriz & Abdelhakim Mesloub & Khaled Elkhayat & Mohammed A Alghaseb & Mohamed Hassan Abdelhafez & Aritra Ghosh, 2021. "Development of a Mosque Design for a Hot, Dry Climate Based on a Holistic Bioclimatic Vision," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    9. Mushk Bughio & Muhammad Shoaib Khan & Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Thorsten Schuetze, 2021. "Impact of Passive Energy Efficiency Measures on Cooling Energy Demand in an Architectural Campus Building in Karachi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-35, June.
    10. Abdul Mujeebu, Muhammad & Bano, Farheen, 2022. "Integration of passive energy conservation measures in a detached residential building design in warm humid climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    11. Elaouzy, Youssef & El Fadar, Abdellah, 2023. "Sustainability of building-integrated bioclimatic design strategies depending on energy affordability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).

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