IMPACT OF APPROPRIATE ORIENTATION OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY: A CASE STUDY IN TETOVO, NORTH MACEDONIA

While sustainable urban development has become very important nowadays, the tendency of the population to move to the city is continually expanding and this causes higher consumption of energy to satisfy the requirements of the residents. A high percentage of this energy is used for HVAC and lighting of residential buildings. For this reason, the purpose of this research is to analyze the appropriate orientation of buildings witch is defined by site planning including the geometry of the buildings, by examining a residential neighborhood within a Tetovo. This paper detects the potential for innovative design strategies to drive substantial energy savings and promote environmentally responsible living. Building orientation within a neighborhood plays an important role in using the power of the sun. The study also explores the important role of site planning in the neighborhood’s energy efficiency ecosystem. The arrangement of buildings within the site play a dual role in promoting sustainability. Analyzed position of the residential buildings based on the openings in different orientations gives us the right to make the conclusion, that in Tetovo neighborhood the position of the greatest number of residential buildings is based on sustainable site plan which opens the dimension of energy efficiency related to the exposure to the sun. Southeast and southwest orientation are suitable for optimal use of solar energy increasing the energy efficiency of the buildings. In Tetovo, a city with a continental climate, the angle at which buildings are positioned relative to the sun's path can significantly impact energy consumption.