IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p3258-d1628999.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of Window Size Modification on Energy Consumption in UK Residential Buildings: A Feasibility and Simulation Study

Author

Listed:
  • Yue Zhang

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Siddig Omer

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Ruichang Hu

    (Southwest Research Institute for Hydraulic and Water Transport Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400016, China)

Abstract

This study investigates window renovation strategies for a detached building in Belper, UK, analyzing double- and triple-glazed, vacuum, and low-E vacuum windows with varying gas fillings, pillar radii, and spacing. The results reveal that increasing glass layers reduces energy consumption, while a larger pillar radius decreases efficiency. More pillars improve window performance. For windows with the same U-value, a higher SHGC enhances energy efficiency by maximizing solar heat gain, particularly in colder climates. Conversely, reducing the U-value while maintaining a constant SHGC enhances insulation and minimizes heat loss. The study emphasizes the necessity of balancing U-value and SHGC for optimal window performance in different climates. The most effective strategy involves using a low-E vacuum window with a 0.25 mm pillar radius and 40 mm spacing while doubling the south-facing window area, leading to a 7.01 GJ heating load reduction—a 27.9% improvement over modifying the window type alone. Additionally, a key ratio, SHGC /( U window − U wall ), is introduced to assess window size modifications. The results indicate that enlarging windows is beneficial when solar heat gain surpasses additional heat loss, underscoring the importance of balancing heat conduction and solar energy utilization in energy-efficient building design.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Zhang & Siddig Omer & Ruichang Hu, 2025. "Impact of Window Size Modification on Energy Consumption in UK Residential Buildings: A Feasibility and Simulation Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3258-:d:1628999
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3258/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3258/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mangkuto, Rizki A. & Rohmah, Mardliyahtur & Asri, Anindya Dian, 2016. "Design optimisation for window size, orientation, and wall reflectance with regard to various daylight metrics and lighting energy demand: A case study of buildings in the tropics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 211-219.
    2. Jiayu Li & Bohong Zheng & Xiao Chen & Yihua Zhou & Jifa Rao & Komi Bernard Bedra, 2020. "Research on Annual Thermal Environment of Non-Hvac Building Regulated by Window-to-Wall Ratio in a Chinese City (Chenzhou)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Xue, Peng & Li, Qian & Xie, Jingchao & Zhao, Mengjing & Liu, Jiaping, 2019. "Optimization of window-to-wall ratio with sunshades in China low latitude region considering daylighting and energy saving requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 62-70.
    4. Haiqiang Liu & Zhihao Zhang & Xidong Ma & Weite Lu & Dongze Li & Shoichi Kojima, 2021. "Optimization Analysis of the Residential Window-to-Wall Ratio Based on Numerical Calculation of Energy Consumption in the Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Zone of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    5. Ma, Peizheng & Wang, Lin-Shu & Guo, Nianhua, 2015. "Maximum window-to-wall ratio of a thermally autonomous building as a function of envelope U-value and ambient temperature amplitude," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 84-91.
    6. Halil Alibaba, 2016. "Determination of Optimum Window to External Wall Ratio for Offices in a Hot and Humid Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Giacomo Chiesa & Andrea Acquaviva & Mario Grosso & Lorenzo Bottaccioli & Maurizio Floridia & Edoardo Pristeri & Edoardo Maria Sanna, 2019. "Parametric Optimization of Window-to-Wall Ratio for Passive Buildings Adopting A Scripting Methodology to Dynamic-Energy Simulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-30, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giacomo Chiesa & Andrea Acquaviva & Mario Grosso & Lorenzo Bottaccioli & Maurizio Floridia & Edoardo Pristeri & Edoardo Maria Sanna, 2019. "Parametric Optimization of Window-to-Wall Ratio for Passive Buildings Adopting A Scripting Methodology to Dynamic-Energy Simulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-30, May.
    2. Mamdooh Alwetaishi & Omrane Benjeddou, 2021. "Impact of Window to Wall Ratio on Energy Loads in Hot Regions: A Study of Building Energy Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Seyedeh Farzaneh Mousavi Motlagh & Ali Sohani & Mohammad Djavad Saghafi & Hoseyn Sayyaadi & Benedetto Nastasi, 2021. "The Road to Developing Economically Feasible Plans for Green, Comfortable and Energy Efficient Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-30, January.
    4. Xue, Peng & Li, Qian & Xie, Jingchao & Zhao, Mengjing & Liu, Jiaping, 2019. "Optimization of window-to-wall ratio with sunshades in China low latitude region considering daylighting and energy saving requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 62-70.
    5. Acosta, Ignacio & Campano, Miguel Ángel & Molina, Juan Francisco, 2016. "Window design in architecture: Analysis of energy savings for lighting and visual comfort in residential spaces," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 493-506.
    6. Ali Mohammed AL-Dossary & Daeung Danny Kim, 2020. "A Study of Design Variables in Daylight and Energy Performance in Residential Buildings under Hot Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Zhai, Yingni & Wang, Yi & Huang, Yanqiu & Meng, Xiaojing, 2019. "A multi-objective optimization methodology for window design considering energy consumption, thermal environment and visual performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1190-1199.
    8. Liu, Yang & Pedrycz, Witold & Deveci, Muhammet & Chen, Zhen-Song, 2024. "BIM-based building performance assessment of green buildings - A case study from China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    9. Waibel, Christoph & Evins, Ralph & Carmeliet, Jan, 2019. "Co-simulation and optimization of building geometry and multi-energy systems: Interdependencies in energy supply, energy demand and solar potentials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1661-1682.
    10. Kittisak Lohwanitchai & Daranee Jareemit, 2021. "Modeling Energy Efficiency Performance and Cost-Benefit Analysis Achieving Net-Zero Energy Building Design: Case Studies of Three Representative Offices in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Xiang Liu & Wanjiang Wang & Zixuan Wang & Junkang Song & Ke Li, 2023. "Simulation Study on Outdoor Wind Environment of Residential Complexes in Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Climate Zones Based on Entropy-Based TOPSIS Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-28, August.
    12. Ascione, Fabrizio & De Masi, Rosa Francesca & de Rossi, Filippo & Ruggiero, Silvia & Vanoli, Giuseppe Peter, 2016. "Optimization of building envelope design for nZEBs in Mediterranean climate: Performance analysis of residential case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 938-957.
    13. Wang, Y. & Mauree, D. & Sun, Q. & Lin, H. & Scartezzini, J.L. & Wennersten, R., 2020. "A review of approaches to low-carbon transition of high-rise residential buildings in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Halil Alibaba, 2016. "Determination of Optimum Window to External Wall Ratio for Offices in a Hot and Humid Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, February.
    15. Fernandes, Marco S. & Rodrigues, Eugénio & Gaspar, Adélio Rodrigues & Costa, José J. & Gomes, Álvaro, 2019. "The impact of thermal transmittance variation on building design in the Mediterranean region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 581-597.
    16. Pajek, Luka & Košir, Mitja, 2021. "Strategy for achieving long-term energy efficiency of European single-family buildings through passive climate adaptation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    17. Seok-Hyun Kim & Hakgeun Jeong & Soo Cho, 2019. "A Study on Changes of Window Thermal Performance by Analysis of Physical Test Results in Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Chen, Qian & Oh, Seung Jin & Burhan, Muhammad, 2020. "Design and optimization of a novel electrowetting-driven solar-indoor lighting system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    19. Lešnik, Maja & Kravanja, Stojan & Premrov, Miroslav & Žegarac Leskovar, Vesna, 2020. "Optimal design of timber-glass upgrade modules for vertical building extension from the viewpoints of energy efficiency and visual comfort," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    20. ChungYeon Won & SangTae No & Qamar Alhadidi, 2019. "Factors Affecting Energy Performance of Large-Scale Office Buildings: Analysis of Benchmarking Data from New York City and Chicago," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3258-:d:1628999. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.