Impact of Southern Window-to-Floor Area Ratios on the Thermal Performance of the Settlement in the Hot and Dry Climate (Case Study: Kashan City)

A major party of generated energy is now used for heating and cooling buildings. Hence, it is beneficial to apply solutions that reduce the thermal load of buildings. However, solutions for energy consumption reduction always face barriers. Optimizing window proportions in energy consumption saving is highly influential in this case. The window is one of the main components that receives solar radiation energy but also serves as a thermal bridge transmitting energy from interior to exterior space. This study investigates the climate conditions of Kashan. It determines materials as constant variables to examine the impact of southern window-to-floor area ratios on the thermal performance of settlements in hot and dry climates to achieve higher efficiency of this element using simulation of different models through EnergyPlus software. This study then examines the cooling and heating load created in interior space considering variable elements of ratios, window elongation, and window-to-floor ratio, using single and double-glazed glass and its analysis considering meteorological data of this city using EnergyPLus software. Finally, the most optimum southern window-to-floor ratio was determined. This study aims to achieve efficiency and the highest impact of the southern side's window of a building on the thermal performance of the building by simulating various models through EnergyPlus software. This study has used the descriptive-analytical method, then analyzed the obtained results, and lastly outlined the priority of application among models as follows:1.38 ratio, 1 ratio, and 1.95 ratio. In contrast, the most optimum window ratio is a 15% window-to-floor ratio with 1.38 proportions and eastern and western elongation using double-glazed glass.