A scenario-based analysis of energy conservation measures in building-using dynamic simulation

Buildings consume approximately one-third of the world’s total energy. Most of this energy is used for space cooling, space heating, and lighting, and the electric demand for these uses has increased rapidly in recent years. Since carbon emissions are proportional to energy consumption, reducing building energy use is critical. In Mediterranean climates, characterized by hot summers and high solar radiation, cooling energy demand is particularly significant. Many previous studies have tested energy conservation measures, but most focused on single strategies, however, this study applies a scenario-based dynamic simulation workflow to evaluate the impact of Energy conservation measures and PV systems for a six-story multi-office building in southern Italy that is currently in the design phase. The case study building was modeled in OpenStudio/EnergyPlus with detailed geometry, materials, schedules, and a HVCA/VRF system. ECMs were categorized into three passive, active, and renewable strategies, and tested both individually and in combination. The measures include shading devices, window performance, Increase R-value of Exterior Wall Insulation, infiltration reduction, daylighting control, fans efficiency and reduction in lighting and equipment load. Parametric scenarios were evaluated using PAT. PV systems were modeled separately in Rhino/Grasshopper with Ladybug and Honeybee plugins. PV Panels were installed on both the Rooftop and facade, and multiple scenarios were tested by varying panel location, tilt angle (10°-90°), to identify the configuration with the highest annual energy yield. The results show that individual ECMs provide measurable benefits but applying them together gives a greater improvement in overall energy performance. For example and shading devices and daylight controls significantly reduced both cooling and lighting loads, but this also required careful balance to maintain effectiveness. Applied ECM packages proved far more effective. In this case, five ECM scenarios were tested, and one of them achieved a 34% reduction in cooling demand and a 38% decrease in total annual energy use compared to the baseline. Additionally, the PV analysis showed that optimal placements (6th roof, 3rd roof, and south façade) could supply up to 65% the building's annual electricity demand after implementing ECMs. This study demonstrates that dynamic simulation is effective for analyzing interactions among measures and supporting early-stage decision-making. Integrating passive, active, and renewable strategies significantly reduced overall energy use and grid dependency, supporting the transition toward nearly zero-energy buildings.