The impact of urban morphology on the building energy consumption and solar energy generation potential of university dormitory blocks

Urban morphology is a major factor affecting building energy consumption and solar potential in the urban block. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of urban morphology on both building energy consumption and solar energy generation potential for university dormitory blocks in Wuhan. This paper proposed a classification method for dormitory blocks, calculated the building energy consumption and solar energy generation potential of 55 blocks, and analyzed the correlation between urban morphology and three energy performance indicators: Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Solar Energy Generation Intensity (SEGI) and Net Energy Use Intensity (NEUI). Multiple regression models were used to predict energy performance by urban morphological parameters. The results indicate that different block types could lead to up to 12.25% difference in EUI, and 35.85% significant difference in building NEUI with the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) panels. The EUI is mainly affected by three morphological parameters, which are Average length of block, Shape factor and Building density; while the SEGI and NEUI are mainly affected by Average height of block, Shape factor and Sky view factor. This study could serve as guidelines for planners and policymakers in campus planning and architectural design to improve building energy conservation at block-scale.