Architectural design optimization of school buildings for reduction of energy demand in hot and dry climates of Iran

School buildings, which form a major part of public buildings, are considered to be one of the maximum consumers of energy in iran. based on building typology and occupancy patterns, school buildings have a significant potentiality for energy optimization while providing thermal comfort. this study investigates the architectural design parameters such as orientation, optimum window-to-wall ratio, space organization, sun shading, and building shape, which have a considerable impact on the energy demand. for the purpose of this study, a typical elementary school is selected, modeled, and analyzed by integrating different design measures using a dynamic simulation software tool. the optimum values for various architectural design parameters are calculated. the results reveal that through energy efficient architectural design, the primary energy demand of the studied case has reduced by 31% while maintaining visual and thermal comfort as compared to the existing building.