Simulation as a Tool to Develop Guidelines of Envelope Design of a Typical Office Building in Egypt

This paper describes the use of building performance simulation software in order to develop guidelines for designing energy-efficient office building. In Egypt energy codes for all building types are being under development. On the other hand market trends have driven office buildings architecture towards neglecting not only environmental considerations but also local context and vernacular architecture. The case study presented in this paper is an attempt to use simulation tools to evaluate variants of envelope thermal characteristics at early stage of design in order to assist creating an energy efficient structure, providing best comfortable conditions for inhabitants and at the same time maintaining the vernacular character of the building. In order to achieve these aims Ecotect is used to conduct a series of thermal and lighting analyses which have good prospects of influencing building performance. Subsequently sensitivity analysis calculations were performed to define the parameters that contribute significantly to energy efficiency and thermal comfor