10.57647/j.ccd.2025.0804.20

The Role of Environmental Elements of Residential Houses in Reducing Energy Consumption in Cold and Mountainous Climates Comparison of Designers and Users

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  • Rojan Alborzi*1,
  • Rana Moeini2,
  • Mohammadreza Bemanian3,
  1. Department of Architecture, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
  2. Department of Architecture, Eyvanakey University, Eyvanakey, Iran
  3. Department of Architecture, TarbiatModares University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-08-06

Revised: 2025-09-15

Accepted: 2025-10-04

Published in Issue 2025-12-31

Copyright (c) 2026 Rojan Alborzi, Rana Moeini, Mohammadreza Bemanian (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Alborzi, R., Moeini, R., & Bemanian, M. (2025). The Role of Environmental Elements of Residential Houses in Reducing Energy Consumption in Cold and Mountainous Climates Comparison of Designers and Users. Creative City Design, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.57647/j.ccd.2025.0804.20
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Abstract

Aims: Residential buildings consist of various environmental and physical-spatial elements that influence heat transfer, energy efficiency, and occupants’ spatial comfort. This study aims to identify and evaluate the key environmental components from the viewpoints of both designers and users, in order to propose effective strategies for reducing energy consumption in residential housing especially under cold and mountainous climatic conditions [1, 2].

Methodology: A mixed-method research design was employed. First, a systematic literature review was carried out, followed by semi-structured interviews with 46 experts to extract primary environmental components. The qualitative data were coded using ATLAS.ti. Then, in the quantitative phase, a Likert-scale questionnaire was circulated among 384 participants (designers and users), and responses were analyzed using inferential statistical methods in ORIGINPRO.

Findings: The analysis demonstrates that among designers, the highest contributing factors in reducing energy consumption are “continuity in the use of materials” and “false ceilings,” whereas “ceiling (internal slab)” has the lowest weight. Among users, “continuity in material use” also ranks highest, and “plaster coating” ranks lowest. These differences highlight a divergence in priorities between designers and users.

Conclusion: Environmental components strongly influence energy behaviour in residential buildings. Continuity in material application emerges as the most influential variable across both groups. The findings underline the importance of integrating residents’ perceptions with technical and thermal design strategies to optimize energy efficiency in housing. Future research should consider applying building performance simulations to validate the proposed components’ effectiveness.

Keywords

  • Residential environmental components,
  • Energy consumption reduction,
  • Designers,
  • Users,
  • Thermal performance
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