Energy efficiency compared studies at Master plan stage for a new urban development in Madrid

In order to achieve optimum results, energy efficiency of buildings should be first addressed in the pre-design phase. This paper describes the studies carried out in order to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings planned to be built in a large residential-commercial urban development in the north of Madrid. The first analyses are addressed at Master plan design stage, confronting the issue of energy efficient building form. Following selection of four residential and office plots, several mass options, derived from the tight planning regulations for the area, are modelled and simulated in order to compare the results in terms of heating and cooling demand, taking into account each building's surroundings. Once the most efficient mass options are chosen, further studies, centred in envelope materials and building refrigeration and heating systems will be carried out, so the results obtained in all these areas can be used as criteria and specification guides from the early stages of individual building design projects.