Introduction
Buildings are considered the leading energy consumers, representing 40% of global energy usage. In Iran, due to insufficient focus on energy issues by both the population and authorities, over 40% of total energy consumption is allocated to this sector. The primary aim of this research is to assess the influence of each design parameter (form, envelope, openings, and roof) from the viewpoint of professionals in this field, focusing on residential apartment designs for energy reduction in Iran’s humid and moderate climate. The secondary goal is to rank these components (form, envelope, openings, and roof) in terms of their energy-saving potential, as advised by experts.
Methods and Material
This research adopts an applied methodology, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative techniques based on the nature of the data. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was employed to prioritize the components and define the critical design elements for reducing energy consumption. Initially, 41 indicators were identified for the four main parameters (form, envelope, openings, and roof). The quantitative phase involved using a questionnaire, with expert feedback ensuring the accuracy of the findings, leading to the identification and ranking of 37 final indicators.
Results and Discussion
The results reveal that, from the experts' point of view, to reduce energy consumption in residential apartments in Iran’s humid and moderate climate, the envelope and openings components received the highest rankings, with weights of 0.383 and 0.312, respectively. Among envelope elements, the highest weight was given to avoiding metal materials. For openings, the most significant factor was the optimal placement of windows. In terms of roof design, the most valued element was the use of sloped roofs, while for form, the spacing between buildings ranked the highest. Experts in this field suggest that following the prioritization proposed in this study could effectively contribute to lowering energy consumption in residential apartments in the target climate.