Understanding the impact of building morphology on building energy consumption: A spatial econometric analysis

Understanding the impact of building morphology on building energy consumption is crucial for policymakers and urban planners to develop effective strategies for energy efficiency and sustainable development. This study develops an analysis framework based on geospatial data and spatial regression models to analyze the impact of building morphology on urban building energy consumption. To ascertain the efficacy of the proposed framework, a case study was conducted in the city of Beijing. The results reveal spatial variations in building energy consumption at the high-resolution level, with higher levels observed in the central urban areas that gradually decrease towards the outskirts. The six indicators of building morphology highlight notable variations in urban form characteristics across regions. In addition, the spatial regression analysis indicates that footprint area, envelope area, and floor area ratio show a substantial influence on the energy consumption of buildings. Finally, the policy recommendations are presented for the mitigation of building energy consumption.