Parametric assessment of window orientation, glazing types, and window-to-wall ratio on energy consumption in individual housing: the case of Guelma, Algeria

The building envelope, through its components, affects the thermal performance and energy consumption, mainly through windows, which provide easy access for heat gain or loss. In this context, Windows play an essential role in building energy efficiency, influencing heating and cooling requirements. Three key window parameters must be optimized at the design stage to take advantage of solar gain while limiting overheating: orientation, glazing type, and window-to-wall ratio. Therefore, this article aims to assess the impact of different window parameters on the energy used for heating and cooling of an individual housing in Guelma, located in the north-east of Algeria. Four orientations, three glazing types, and ten window-wall ratio scenarios were studied based on a parametric simulation using Rhinoceros 3D and its Grasshopper plug-in. The research results showed that the window to the north has the highest overall energy use while the window to the south has the lowest. Also, the rise in the window/wall ratio and the increase in energy usage are therefore positively correlated. Moreover, double glazing low-emissivity was found to be the most effective in terms of energy savings across all orientations. These savings were especially notable for high window/wall ratios, with the southern orientation reaching up to 35.21%, the western orientation, 25.13%, the eastern orientation 27.05%, and the northern orientation 23.24%. . This study provides guidelines for window design to reduce energy use, maximize thermal comfort, and enhance the energy efficiency of buildings.