Abstract:
Climate change poses a significant threat, resulting in rising global temperatures and
increased energy demands. Commercial buildings, being substantial consumers of energy,
are at the forefront of this challenge. This research addresses a critical gap in the literature,
which lacks comprehensive studies on the long-term efficacy of passive design strategies
under both current and future climate conditions, particularly in the context of rapidly
urbanizing regions like Pakistan. This study investigates the role of passive design
measures in enhancing the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and reducing carbon
emissions across different climate scenarios. Using building energy simulations for a
commercial structure, the research explores the effectiveness of various insulation
materials, including expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene (XPS), and bio-phase
change materials (BioPCM), under present and future climate conditions projected for
2050 and 2080. Results demonstrate that expanded polystyrene applied on the roof and
polyurethane foam on the walls provide the highest energy savings, achieving reductions
of 21.9% in current climates, 15.1% by 2050, and 9.1% by 2080. Additionally, a 20%
reduction in carbon emissions was observed. When applied to Karachi’s climate, these
passive measures yielded an 18.88% reduction in energy consumption, indicating their
broad applicability. The study emphasizes the potential of passive strategies in achieving
Net Zero Carbon goals and promoting sustainable development.
