Energy-Efficient Commercial Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal: Integrating Energy Simulations into the Design Process

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, endures up to 14 h of load shedding per day. In response to this daily challenge, the objective of this research was to design an energy-efficient commercial complex, a combination of a mall and an office complex, in Kathmandu that can function on minimal external energy resources. The research focused on careful analysis of the monthly climatic data, passive design strategies, and site elements to suggest passive solar techniques to reduce the amount of energy the complex would require and to select the best design approach for use of renewable energy sources. Because design decisions made in the very early stages have a significant impact on the overall energy consumption and the internal environment of the building, simulation models were tested and compared at the early massing design stages to make appropriate decisions toward this goal, seeking the best solution for an energy-efficient building design in terms of building massing, orientation, solar thermal heating, and cooling. © 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.