Energy Efficiency Design Strategies in Office Buildings: A Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract The growing concerns over the adverse effects of buildings on the environment and the need to achieve users’ thermal, visual, acoustic, spatial and indoor environmental air quality comfort have given rise to the demand for energy efficient buildings. This paper relied on a review of 36 articles published between 2007 and 2019 to identify and categorise energy efficiency design, planning and construction applicable to office buildings. The data were randomly selected using Science Direct and Google Scholar search engines on the internet and analysed by thematic textual analysis. The results revealed 29 energy efficiency design strategies applicable for office buildings which were categorised into the three distinct phases of building projects: pre-construction (design and planning), construction and post construction stages. The strategies were further categorised into energy efficient landscape designs, site selection, building orientation, building plan and appropriate space organisation. The study also established that building envelope systems, building orientation, integration of renewable energy sources and day lighting design strategies were the most implemented in office buildings. The review concluded by highlighting the key areas of focus in energy efficiency design strategies in office buildings, the extent research has progressed on the subject and future possible directions on the topic.