An energetic profile for greener buildings

Reducing carbon emissions is one of the major challenges facing policy makers today. Cities need a better grasp of the effects of comprehensive energy retrofitting to deal with this crisis. In this study, an Energetic Profile for Existing Office Buildings concept and its features are presented. It consists of seven architectural parameters from macro to micro, including building environment, envelope, compactness, shape, floor plan flexibility and access to daylight, floor efficiency and space subdivision. The Energetic Profile identifies energy-saving opportunities and defines the key energetic-architectural typologies of office buildings that are rarely incorporated in environmentally conscious standards. For each parameter, a methodology is presented to calculate the total energy impact (cooling, heating, and lighting). This is illustrated by an assessment of a theoretical office building located in a hot and humid climate. The findings prove the effectiveness of the Energetic Profile in identifying energy savings, comparing design alternatives, and qualifying the influence of construction phases. Applications of the Energetic Profile to new office buildings are also discussed.