An attempt to design energy efficient buildings with a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective

Focusing solely on energy efficiency in building design is insufficient to stem the growth of energy demand in the building sector, especially with current market barriers for energy efficient buildings (EEBs). Therefore, when designing EEBs, a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that simultaneously addresses energy efficiency and marketability may yield more efficient results for reducing the building sector's energy demand. Aesthetic features are crucial criteria for marketability and increasing the number of EEBs. However, the effects of parameters affecting energy efficiency on aesthetics and marketability have been barely studied. Window features are a building component that has a major impact on the aesthetics, marketability, and energy efficiency of buildings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of different window features on aesthetics, marketability, and energy consumption of low-rise detached UK residential buildings. For this purpose, the impact of different window features (i.e., position, number, area, width, height, symmetry, and proportion) on annual energy consumption, aesthetics, and marketability were investigated by conducting a series of Design Builder energy simulations and a comprehensive survey study (n=807). According to the results, there was a strong positive correlation between aesthetics and marketability. Window area and number were identified as the most influential window parameters to minimise annual energy consumption whilst improving the aesthetics and marketability of UK residential buildings. Therefore, simultaneous improvement of the energy efficiency, aesthetics and marketability of UK residential buildings could be possible with greater attention to design and the number and area of windows.