The Impact of Natural Ventilation on Building Form Optimisation for Energy Efficiency: A comparative study of surface-to-volume ratio with and without natural ventilation

Yang Yang*, Lok Hang Cheung, Likai Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of natural ventilation (NV) on the optimisation of building form factors, particularly the surface-to-volume ratio (SVR), in reducing energy consumption. Traditional approaches minimise SVR to lower energy use by reducing heat transfer, often at the cost of design flexibility. However, incorporating NV can enhance energy performance without requiring restrictive SVR reductions in hot or warm climates. A comparative optimisation study was conducted using two scenarios—one with NV and one without—revealing that solutions with NV achieved lower energy use intensity (EUI), even with larger SVRs. Results indicate that NV not only reduces EUI but also allows for more diverse building forms, enabling designs with increased cantilevers and reduced repetitive massing without energy penalties. This research extends prior studies by examining the whole-building impact of NV rather than isolated design elements. Future studies may delve into how factors like wind speed and direction influence SVR and energy performance, offering actionable insights for architects aiming to balance energy efficiency and architectural flexibility.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationARCHITECTURAL INFORMATICS, Proceedings of the 30th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) 2025
Pages285-294
Number of pages10
Volume3
Publication statusPublished - 22 Mar 2025

Keywords

  • Surface-to-volume ratio
  • evolutionary optimisation
  • energy consumption
  • natural ventilation
  • early design stage

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Impact of Natural Ventilation on Building Form Optimisation for Energy Efficiency: A comparative study of surface-to-volume ratio with and without natural ventilation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this