Planning Towards Zero Urban Energy in Hot and Dry Climate Cities in Iran; Case Study: Semnan with Emphasis on Solar Energy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Elnaz Maghsoodi 1
Saeid Kamyabi 2
زند مقدم Zandmoghadam 3
1 PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, se.c, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
2 Department of Geography, Se. C., , Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
3 , Department of Geography, Sem. C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
10.22034/eiat.2025.251839
Abstract
The increasing growth in energy consumption in cities and the environmental consequences arising from dependence on fossil resources have increased the necessity of moving toward sustainable urban patterns with nearly zero energy consumption. The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the reduction of fossil energy consumption and the achievement of the status of a zero-carbon city. The research method is descriptive-analytical and, since it examines the correlation between the research variables, it falls within the category of correlational studies. In terms of implementation, the present study is applied, while in terms of time, it is classified as a cross-sectional study and, based on its scope, as an extensive study. DesignBuilder software is a computational tool used for modeling and simulating the energy consumption of buildings. This research was conducted on a residential building as a case study. Subsequently, all parameters affecting the building’s energy consumption were examined, and the results were presented using simulations performed with DesignBuilder software. The energy consumption of the building under consideration was estimated at 103.61 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year. After applying carbon-reduction strategies to the building, its energy consumption was recalculated using DesignBuilder software. This time, the building’s energy consumption reached 56.62 kilowatt-hours per square meter. The results showed that the consumed energy decreased by 99.46 kilowatt-hours per square meter, equivalent to approximately 54 percent. Based on the research findings, it can be stated that Semnan City, with its high number of sunny days per year, has sufficient potential to utilize this energy. Among the most important innovative and practical aspects of the research is that this study is being conducted in its present form for the first time in Semnan City, and the implementation of its findings can grant the city a special status in the field of clean energy.
Keywords
Renewable energies
Solar energy
Zero-energy building
Zero-carbon city (Zero energy)
Subjects
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