IN-24-C003 - Energy Efficiency in Coastal Climates: Unravelling Design Sensitivities

The most impactful energy performance decisions are made during the initial building design stage. Architects often deal with conflicting objectives, thus requiring clear guidelines on critical design choices. Therefore, it is important to understand how alternative designs may affect their energy performance in present and future climates, particularly in vulnerable coastal cities in developing countries. This study uses Morris Sensitivity Analysis to identify the most impactful design parameters of a multistorey apartment building on Iran’s southern coast. The energy performance was determined using dynamic simulation on present-day meteorological records and generated future weather data (SSP5-8.5 scenario for the 2080 timeframe). Specific factors impact energy consumption in this cooling-dominated climate. Windows’ solar heat gains and the conductivity of walls emerge as pivotal factors, exhibiting substantial influence in present and future climates, particularly for middle-floor apartment units. For first-floor units, the conductivity of the floor assumes a leading role, while solar absorptance and conductivity of the roof emerge as crucial factors for top-floor units. These factors will remain vital in cooling-dominated regions. However, most strategies appear to be gaining importance over time. These insights provide valuable guidance for developing effective building envelopes tailored to Iran’s coastal cities and others sharing similar climates.