Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of the effect of passive measures on the energy consumption and zero-energy prospects of residential buildings in Pakistan

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Building Simulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Climate change can adversely impact the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the buildings stock. The South Asian countries are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change specially in the form of rising temperatures and increasing frequency of heat waves. The passive building design measures can be useful in mitigating and adapting to the climate change by increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study various passive climate change adaptation measures (PCAMs) have been used individually and in form of combinations in order to analyze their impact on the energy efficacy of residential buildings in Pakistan. It has been found that the natural ventilation and front green wall are the most efficient options for reducing the overall energy consumption. By implementation of these PCAMs, cooling demand can be decreased by 27.75% while heating demand can be reduced by 35%. Secondly, the prospect of net zero-energy building and reduced CO2 emissions are also studied. It has been shown that building can achieve net-zero energy on an annual basis at every orientation and it can attain the status of nearly zero-energy building on a monthly basis. Moreover, emitted CO2 can be reduced by 31% by using the renewable energy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

°C:

centigrade

CO2 :

carbon dioxide

U-value:

thermal transmittance

R c-value:

thermal resistance

ACH:

air changes per hour

ADB:

Asian Development Bank

BCP:

Building Codes of Pakistan

DGG:

double glazing glass

EPW:

EnergyPlus weather data file

FW:

front green wall

GHG:

greenhouse gases

ICT:

Islamabad Capital Territory

IESCO:

Islamabad Electric Supply Company

NV:

natural ventilation — 24 hours

NV-day:

natural ventilation — daytime

NV-night:

natural ventilation — nighttime

nZEB:

net or near zero-energy building

OH:

overheating hours

PCAM:

passive climate adaptation measure

PV:

photovoltaics

RC1.25:

thermal resistance of 1.25

RC3.5:

thermal resistance of 3.5

SWR:

short-wave reflectivity (albedo)

TM:

thermal mass

TMY:

typical meteorological year

VR:

vegetated/green roof

WL:

window louvres

WO:

window overhang

References

  • Adnan S, Hayat Khan A, Haider S, Mahmood R (2012). Solar energy potential in Pakistan. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 4: 032701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad A (2004). Energy simulation for a typical house built with different types of masonry building materials. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 29: 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akbari H, Bretz S, Kurn DM, Hanford J (1997). Peak power and cooling energy savings of high-albedo roofs. Energy and Buildings, 25: 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alaidroos A, Krarti M (2015). Optimal design of residential building envelope systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Energy and Buildings, 86: 104–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alajmi A (2012). Energy audit of an educational building in a hot summer climate. Energy and Buildings, 47: 122–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • AlAjmi A, Abou-Ziyan H, Ghoneim A (2016). Achieving annual and monthly net-zero energy of existing building in hot climate. Applied Energy, 165: 511–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Almeida MA, Schaeffer R, La Rovere EL (2001). The potential for electricity conservation and peak load reduction in the residential sector of Brazil. Energy, 26: 413–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Sanea SA, Zedan MF, Al-Hussain SN (2012). Effect of thermal mass on performance of insulated building walls and the concept of energy savings potential. Applied Energy, 89: 430–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baggs D, Mortensen N (2006). Thermal mass in building design. Environment Design Guide.

  • Boardman B (2004). Achieving energy efficiency through product policy: the UK experience. Environmental Science & Policy, 7: 165–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozonnet E, Doya M, Allard F (2011). Cool roofs impact on building thermal response: A French case study. Energy and Buildings, 43: 3006–3012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cascone S, Catania F, Gagliano A, Sciuto G (2018). A comprehensive study on green roof performance for retrofitting existing buildings. Building and Environment, 136: 227–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • CDA (2007). Facts and Statistics about Islamabad. Capital Development Authority, Pakistan. Available at http://www.cda.gov.pk/about_islamabad/vitalstats.asp

  • Chaudhry QUZ (2017). Climate Change Profile of Pakistan. Asian Development Bank.

  • Costanzo V, Evola G, Marletta L (2016). Energy savings in buildings or UHI mitigation? Comparison between green roofs and cool roofs. Energy and Buildings, 114: 247–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahanayake KC, Chow CL (2018). Comparing reduction of building cooling load through green roofs and green walls by EnergyPlus simulations. Building Simulation, 11: 421–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • DesignBuilder (2008). DesignBuilder 1.5 User Manual. Available at http://www.designbuildersoftware.com/docs/designbuilder/DesignBuilder_1.5_Ltr.pdf

  • Dhaka S, Mathur J, Garg V (2012). Combined effect of energy efficiency measures and thermal adaptation on air conditioned building in warm climatic conditions of India. Energy and Buildings, 55, 351–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Djedjig R, Bozonnet E, Belarbi R (2016). Modeling green wall interactions with street canyons for building energy simulation in urban context. Urban Climate, 16: 75–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Djedjig R, Belarbi R, Bozonnet E (2017). Green wall impacts inside and outside buildings: experimental study. Energy Procedia, 139: 578–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drissi Lamrhari E-H, Benhamou B (2018). Thermal behavior and energy saving analysis of a flat with different energy efficiency measures in six climates. Building Simulation, 11: 1123–1144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elghamry R, Hassan H, Hawwash AA (2020). A parametric study on the impact of integrating solar cell panel at building envelope on its power, energy consumption, comfort conditions, and CO2 emissions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 249: 119374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fathalian A, Kargarsharifabad H (2018). Actual validation of energy simulation and investigation of energy management strategies (Case Study: An office building in Semnan, Iran). Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 12: 510–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng H, Hewage K (2014). Energy saving performance of green vegetation on LEED certified buildings. Energy and Buildings, 75: 281–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friess WA, Rakhshan K (2017). A review of passive envelope measures for improved building energy efficiency in the UAE. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 72: 485–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaglia AG, Tsikaloudaki AG, Laskos CM, Dialynas EN, Argiriou AA (2017). The impact of the energy performance regulations’ updated on the construction technology, economics and energy aspects of new residential buildings: The case of Greece. Energy and Buildings, 155: 225–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grondzik W, Al-Hammad A, Harm NJTPR (1989). King Abdul Aziz City for Science, & Technology, K., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Project No. AR-8-049. Thermal and Economic Performance of Insulation for Saudi Buildings.

  • Harkouss F, Fardoun F, Biwole PH (2018). Optimization approaches and climates investigations in NZEB—A review. Building Simulation, 11: 923–952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong T, Langevin J, Sun K (2018). Building simulation: Ten challenges. Building Simulation, 11: 871–898.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang K-T, Hwang R-L (2016). Future trends of residential building cooling energy and passive adaptation measures to counteract climate change: The case of Taiwan. Applied Energy, 184: 1230–1240.

    Google Scholar 

  • IESCO (2015). IESCO Electricity Demand Forecast based on Power Market Survey 2014 to 2024. Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) under the supervision of Planning Power, Pakistan. Available at https://www.ntdc.com.pk/ntdc/public/uploads/services/planning/pms%20load%20forecasts%202014/iesco.pdf

  • Invidiata A, Ghisi E (2016). Impact of climate change on heating and cooling energy demand in houses in Brazil. Energy and Buildings, 130: 20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamal WA (1997). Improving energy efficiency—The cost-effective way to mitigate global warming. Energy Conversion and Management, 38: 39–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawase R, Matsuoka Y, Fujino J (2006). Decomposition analysis of CO2 emission in long-term climate stabilization scenarios. Energy Policy, 34: 2113–2122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota T, Chyee DTH, Ahmad S (2009). The effects of night ventilation technique on indoor thermal environment for residential buildings in hot-humid climate of Malaysia. Energy and Buildings, 41: 829–839.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrie Linda K, Crawley DB (2019). Development of Global Typical Meteorological Years (TMYx). Available at http://climate.onebuilding.org

  • Lenzen M, Wier M, Cohen C, Hayami H, Pachauri S, et al. (2006). A comparative multivariate analysis of household energy requirements in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, India and Japan. Energy, 31: 181–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang X, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Jiang J, Chen H, et al. (2017). Analysis and optimization on energy performance of a rural house in Northern China using passive retrofitting. Energy Procedia, 105: 3023–3030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Kwok YT, Lau KKL, Chan PW, Ng E (2019). Investigating the energy saving potential of applying shading panels on opaque façades: A case study for residential buildings in Hong Kong. Energy and Buildings, 193: 78–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma Q, Bai M (2018). Mechanical behavior, energy-storing properties and thermal reliability of phase-changing energy-storing concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 176: 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • MathWorks (2020). Optimization Toolbox. Available at https://www.mathworks.com/products/optimization.html

  • Meyers S, McMahon J, McNeil M, Liu X (2003). Impacts of US federal energy efficiency standards for residential appliances. Energy, 28: 755–767.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOCC (2012). National Climate Change Policy. Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan. Available at http://www.mocc.gov.pk/moclc/userfiles1/file/Moclc/Policy/National%20Climate%20Change%20Policy%20of%20Pakistan%20(2).pdf

  • Morelli N (2001). Technical innovation and resource efficiency. A model for Australian household appliances. The Journal of Sustainable Product Design, 1(1): 3–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukhtar A, Yusoff MZ, Ng KC (2019). The potential influence of building optimization and passive design strategies on natural ventilation systems in underground buildings: The state of the art. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 92: 103065.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ndiaye D (2018). The impact of building massing on net-zero achievability for office buildings. Building Simulation, 11: 435–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • NEECA (2011). Building Codes of Pakistan (Energy Provisions-2011). National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority, Pakistan.

    Google Scholar 

  • NTDC (2018). Power System Statistics 2017–18. National Transmission & Despatch Company, Pakistan. Available at https://www.ntdc.com.pk/ntdc/public/uploads/services/planning/power%20system%20statistics/pss%2043rd%20Edition.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachauri RK, Allen MR, Barros VR, Broome J, Cramer W, et al. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

  • Pak R, Ocak Z, Sorgüven E (2018). Developing a passive house with a double-skin envelope based on energy and airflow performance. Building Simulation, 11: 373–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • PBS (2017). Provisional Summary Results of 6th Population and Housing Census-2017. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan. Available at http://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/provisional-summary-results-6th-population-and-housing-census-2017-0

    Google Scholar 

  • PBS (2020). Pakistan Social & Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) 2018–19, National/Provincial (Social Report). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan. Available at http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//pslm/publications/pslm2018-19/pslm_report_2018-19_national_provincial.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Prieto A, Knaack U, Auer T, Klein T (2018). Passive cooling & climate responsive façade design: Exploring the limits of passive cooling strategies to improve the performance of commercial buildings in warm climates. Energy and Buildings, 175: 30–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman MM, Rasul MG, Khan MMK (2010). Energy conservation measures in an institutional building in sub-tropical climate in Australia. Applied Energy, 87: 2994–3004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ran J, Tang M (2017). Effect of green roofs combined with ventilation on indoor cooling and energy consumption. Energy Procedia, 141: 260–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues E, Fernandes MS, Gaspar AR, Gomes Á, Costa JJ (2019). Thermal transmittance effect on energy consumption of Mediterranean buildings with different thermal mass. Applied Energy, 252: 113437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roman KK, O’Brien T, Alvey JB, Woo O (2016). Simulating the effects of cool roof and PCM (phase change materials) based roof to mitigate UHI (urban heat island) in prominent US cities. Energy, 96: 103–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romeo C, Zinzi M (2013). Impact of a cool roof application on the energy and comfort performance in an existing non-residential building. A Sicilian case study. Energy and Buildings, 67: 647–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadiqa A, Gulagi A, Breyer C (2018). Energy transition roadmap towards 100% renewable energy and role of storage technologies for Pakistan by 2050. Energy, 147: 518–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saidur R, Masjuki HH, Jamaluddin MY (2007). An application of energy and exergy analysis in residential sector of Malaysia. Energy Policy, 35: 1050–1063.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafigh P, Asadi I, Mahyuddin NB (2018). Concrete as a thermal mass material for building applications — A review. Journal of Building Engineering, 19: 14–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shakeel SR, Takala J, Shakeel W (2016). Renewable energy sources in power generation in Pakistan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 64: 421–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith P, Howden M, Krug T, Masson-Delmotte V, Mbow C, et al. (2017). Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems (SR2). Working Group III Technical Support Unit. World Meteorological Organization and UN Environment Programme.

  • Spentzou E, Cook MJ, Emmitt S (2018). Natural ventilation strategies for indoor thermal comfort in Mediterranean apartments. Building Simulation, 11: 175–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stökler S, Schillings C, Kraas B (2016). Solar resource assessment study for Pakistan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 58: 1184–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Synnefa A, Saliari M, Santamouris M (2012). Experimental and numerical assessment of the impact of increased roof reflectance on a school building in Athens. Energy and Buildings, 55: 7–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taleb HM, Sharples S (2011). Developing sustainable residential buildings in Saudi Arabia: A case study. Applied Energy, 88: 383–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno T, Sano F, Saeki O, Tsuji K (2006). Effectiveness of an energy-consumption information system on energy savings in residential houses based on monitored data. Applied Energy, 83: 166–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullah A, Imran H, Maqsood Z, Butt NZ (2019). Investigation of optimal tilt angles and effects of soiling on PV energy production in Pakistan. Renewable Energy, 139: 830–843.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hooff T, Blocken B, Hensen JLM, Timmermans HJP (2014). On the predicted effectiveness of climate adaptation measures for residential buildings. Building and Environment, 82: 300–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hooff T, Blocken B, Timmermans HJP, Hensen JLM (2016). Analysis of the predicted effect of passive climate adaptation measures on energy demand for cooling and heating in a residential building. Energy, 94: 811–820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasaturo R, van Hooff T, Kalkman I, Blocken B, van Wesemael P (2018). Impact of passive climate adaptation measures and building orientation on the energy demand of a detached lightweight semi-portable building. Building Simulation, 11: 1163–1177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao M, Lin Y, Han J, Zhang G (2014). A review of green roof research and development in China. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 40: 633–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Kumar DLM, Pyrgou A, Chong A, Santamouris M, et al. (2018). Green and cool roofs’ urban heat island mitigation potential in tropical climate. Solar Energy, 173: 597–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Wang D, Liu H, Liu Y, Wu H (2020). Numerical investigation on building envelope optimization for low-energy buildings in low latitudes of China. Building Simulation, 13: 257–269.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Wasim Anwar, Zaib Ali, Abdullah Javed, Emad Ud Din & Muhammad Sajid

Authors
  1. Muhammad Wasim Anwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zaib Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdullah Javed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emad Ud Din
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muhammad Sajid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Wasim Anwar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anwar, M.W., Ali, Z., Javed, A. et al. Analysis of the effect of passive measures on the energy consumption and zero-energy prospects of residential buildings in Pakistan. Build. Simul. 14, 1325–1342 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0729-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0729-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation