Effect of Building Proportions on the Thermal Performance in the Mediterranean Climate of the Gaza Strip

This paper examines the effect of building proportions and orientations on the thermal performance of housing units located in the Mediterranean climate of the Gaza Strip. The study is carried out using computer programs, namely, ECOTECT and IES. The study concluded that the surface to volume ratio of buildings is considered the main geometrical parameter affecting the thermal performance of different geometric shapes. About 39% of energy consumption can be reduced through choosing the optimum building width to length ratio (W/L), which is 0.8. The roof to walls ratio has a considerable influence on the thermal response of buildings. Using the (roof/ walls) ratios, which range between 0.4 to 0.6 is preferable for both cooling and heating requirements. The horizontal arrangements of residential apartments are thermally better than the vertical arrangements of the same (S/V) ratio. Therefore, the study recommends to apply passive solar design strategies, especially with regard to geometric shape and orientation of buildings in the first stage of the design process