Project Summary

Pakistan is one of the countries with the highest energy consumption for domestic use. International Energy Agency’s data-based prediction forecasts it to be around 45.6% in 2021. The fast development of energy-efficient houses is necessary to ensure efficient use of energy resources. Karachi, being the biggest metropolitan in Pakistan, is the key energy user when it comes to domestic energy use due to its large population and number of houses.

This project aimed to develop guidelines in terms of improvements in building envelope, insulation, appliances use, and lighting fixtures, etc., for the construction of houses. To achieve this aim, assessment of existing housing design on energy efficiency in Karachi had been performed using a sensor-based living lab concept. This resulted in identifying energy inefficiencies w.r.t. building envelope design, operational parameters, and energy parameters of the houses along with occupants’ behavior towards energy consumption in houses’ design.

In light of the deficiencies, energy-efficient housing design concepts were integrated into information models to perform:

(a) Energy simulations

(b) Design review using Virtual Reality Environment for technical review and conformance.

Finally, energy-efficient housing design features for Karachi were proposed in the form of an “Energy Efficient Housing Design Guide for Karachi.”