The Influence of Design Parameters on the Operational Energy Carbon Emissions of a Commercial Building in Pakistan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Buildings are responsible for 37% of CO2 emissions and 36% of energy use worldwide, making them significant contributors to both energy use and carbon emissions, due to which building energy efficiency is currently a top priority for regional, national, and global energy policy. This study evaluates building design features, such as window wall ratio (WWR), orientation, and shading coefficient (SC) for its single‐, low‐E double‐, and low‐E triple‐glazed windows. The building analyzed in this study is a hypothetical commercial building located in Lahore, Pakistan (ASHRAE zone 1B). The results show that compared to unglazed windows with a SC of 0.2 and 0.3, peak cooling total load (PCTL) and CO2 emissions are reduced by 17.84% and 17%, respectively, for single‐glazed windows. Similarly, low‐E double‐glazed windows reduce 21.3% and 20.9% in PCTL and CO2 emissions, while low‐E triple‐glazed windows result in reductions of 21.8% and 21.1%, respectively. Reducing the WWR from 15.14% to 4.94% results in a 5.35% reduction in PCTL and CO2 emissions. Moreover, Using the optimized orientation of the building (180° clockwise from north) further decreases PCTL and CO2 emissions by 8.63%. This analysis concludes that significant energy and environmental gains can be achieved by higher‐quality windows, utilizing optimized orientation, and reducing the WWR. In addition to ensuring long‐term cost savings, this strategic approach promotes a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for future generations.

Keywords

• carbon dioxide emissions reduction
• carbon footprint analysis
• energy conservation in built environment
• energy efficiency improvement measures
• energy‐efficient buildings
• energy sustainability