Energy consumption sensitivity of mid-rise residential buildings in Iran’s semi-arid and cold climate

Building energy consumption is a critical global challenge, and an early-stage decision-making model for project managers can be highly effective. This research applies the Akaike information criterion to analyse the variables influencing energy consumption in mid-rise residential buildings in Tehran, Iran. The input variables include the window-to-wall ratio and the thermal resistance of windows, ceilings and external walls, with seven, four, five and six values assigned, respectively, generating 840 modelling scenarios. Sensitivity analysis was performed using R software integrated with Revit and EnergyPlus. The results show that the thermal resistance of the ceiling, the window-to-wall ratio and the interaction between these factors are the most influential in estimating energy consumption. These findings can guide decision-makers in optimising energy efficiency by prioritising the most impactful variables during the design phase. The results will ultimately help improve decision-making by limiting less effective options and focusing on key parameters.