Interior Design Factors and Energy E ciency in Residential Apartments: A Simulation-based Analysis using IES-VE. Case Study: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of how interior design factors contribute to the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Jeddah. The motivation behind this research stems from two factors: the increasing energy demand driven by population growth and climate change challenges, and the need for proactive measures to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings. Despite its importance, particularly during the use phase, the role of interior design in energy efficiency is rarely addressed in the literature. Four standard apartments were selected as case studies, all located in the same seven-story building. The objective of this research is to evaluate how interior design parameters—specifically artificial lighting, daylight exposure, and color choices—impact energy efficiency. This analysis is conducted using detailed architectural modeling and simulation with IES-VE software. The results of this study show that incorporating the following interior design factors can lead to significant energy savings: (1) optimizing the quantity, quality, and distribution of artificial lighting, (2) ensuring sufficient daylight illuminance with the use of double-glazed windows and shading devices, and (3) choosing high reflectance color schemes. Implementing these strategies can reduce lighting energy consumption by 23 percent, and total energy consumption by 3.4 percent to 4.6 percent annually. However, these results depend on maintaining sufficient space between buildings to allow for adequate daylight, which may require policy consideration. Therefore, one of the key recommendations of this paper is to make real estate developers aware of the importance of interior design features during the design and construction phases. Additionally, ensuring appropriate building distances in new districts is crucial to optimize daylight use and foster a more sustainable environment​ .