Research Experience

Research Projects:

• Energy Efficiency of Residential Complexes Using BIM-Integrated Analysis of Building Design, Climatic Conditions and Facilities Optimization

Main Subjects: Energy Efficiency Management

Publisher: - Facilities (F)

- Emerald Publishing Limited

Achievements:

This study investigated the cost benefits of BIM-integrated energy optimization for a residential complex. The purpose of this research is to optimally design residential buildings for energy efficiency by observing climatic conditions and the proportion between energy-consuming facilities using a building information modeling (BIM) system in a temperate and humid environment. Revit software was used for modeling and simulation and Green Building Studio for scenario comparisons. Both are Web-based and resource-efficient. The project aimed to assess energy cost variations due to BIM optimization, considering the building’s size and seaside location. BIM was also used to examine building form and orientation. The building is a four-block residential complex exceeding 18,000 sq m with a central corridor. Located near the Caspian Sea, it experiences hot summers and mild winters with high humidity and frequent fog. The research steps include initial building modeling using parameters common in the Iranian construction industry; initial energy analysis to determine building energy consumption costs; selection of a plan sample for optimization in design, layout and building materials/components; integration of a photovoltaic system, considering operating costs; and energy analysis of the optimized building, comparing energy consumption in normal and optimized modes. Solar panels with a 20.4% efficiency rating were used, covering 90% of the available roof area, with a 30-year operational lifespan. The analysis revealed that using BIM technology to optimize energy consumption parameters could reduce energy costs by up to 58% compared to the existing building and by up to 69% compared to a baseline scenario. Adjusting for the current building conditions, the annual energy consumption cost was reduced to $13 per square meter, with a corresponding energy intensity of 112 kWh/m². Following the optimization of structural and utility design, internal layout and energy-related parameters, the annual energy consumption cost was further reduced to $5.43 per square meter, and the energy intensity decreased to 83.1 kWh/m². The framework of research would enable designers to explore a wider range of design options, considering not only the static geometry of the building but also its dynamic interaction with the surrounding environment. By incorporating real-time weather data, the framework could predict the building’s energy performance across different seasons and weather conditions, allowing for more informed design decisions and a significant reduction in energy consumption. Furthermore, the methodology moves beyond generic climate zone categorization, performing a granular, localized performance analysis where the high humidity and fog directly influence key design outputs, such as thermal bridge mitigation strategies and the precise sizing and balancing of dehumidification-aware heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, thereby ensuring the resulting energy efficiency framework is not only technically sound but also intrinsically tied to the demanding conditions of the building’s specific seaside locale.

Keywords: BIM-based, Energy optimization, High-rise residential complex, Temperate and humid environment, Cost-effectiveness, Building facilities.

Access date: December 16, 2025

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• BIM-Based Approach to Optimizing Energy Consumption in Tower Buildings: Investigation of Parameters and Factors Affecting Energy Efficiency

Main Subjects: Building and Construction

Publisher: - Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (ECAM)

- Emerald Publishing Limited

Achievements:

This research aims to develop a multi-criteria framework for optimizing energy consumption in tower buildings by evaluating parameters and factors affecting energy efficiency over 30 years. Building information modeling (BIM) is employed to model and analyze the results. This study employed a building information modeling (BIM) approach using Autodesk Revit software to model a residential complex in northern Iran. The study considered various building parameters, including form, orientation, materials, HVAC systems and occupancy patterns, to assess their impact on energy consumption. Climatic data for Astara, Iran, with its humid subtropical climate, was automatically integrated into the energy models. The research focused on optimizing energy consumption by analyzing different building configurations and identifying design strategies that minimize energy use and costs. The results of the modeled building analysis indicate that the average annual energy cost will be $19.2 per square meter per year. Accordingly, the average energy use intensity is equivalent to 181 kWh per square meter per year. Compared to the previous building state, potential savings could reach up to 50% in the final annual energy cost. In comparison to the overall baseline, this value could rise to 66.40%. Regarding energy use intensity, the potential savings are estimated at 20.25% compared to the previous building state and 47.57% compared to the overall baseline. The study uniquely combines the evaluation of energy efficiency with a comprehensive assessment of parameters and factors affecting energy consumption over 30 years, all within the context of a building information modeling (BIM) system. This integrated approach distinguishes it from previous research, which likely focused on either energy efficiency alone or without considering a hybrid framework within a BIM environment.

Keywords: Building information modeling (BIM), Energy performance assessment (EPA), Energy efficiency, Tower buildings, Optimization, Sustainable design.

Access date: November 10, 2025

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• Analysis of the Amount of Latent Carbon in the Reconstruction of Residential Buildings with a Multi-Objective Optimization Approach 

Main Subjects: Carbon Emissions

Publisher: - International Journal of Energy Sector Management (IJESM)

- Emerald Publishing Limited

Achievements:

Due to the increase in energy demand and the effects of global warming, energy-efficient buildings have gained significant importance in the modern construction industry. To create a suitable framework with the aim of reducing energy consumption in the building sector, the external walls of a residential building were considered with two criteria of global warming potential and energy consumption. In the first stage, to achieve a nearly zero-energy building, energy analysis was performed for 37 different states of thermal insulation. Then, the insulation materials’ life cycle assessment was performed. These results were used to find a set of optimal modes in the Pareto front by using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II multi-objective genetic algorithm. Thus, based on the data obtained from this method, it was possible to compare and choose different thermal insulation materials based on the distance from the Pareto front, reducing the environmental effects. The results showed that replacing the windows was possible to save 3.24% in energy consumption. Also, selecting the proper insulation reduced energy consumption value by 63.13%. Finally, this building can save 69.31% of energy consumption compared to the base building by following the zero-energy building standard. As a result, the Pareto curve was introduced as a guide for the optimal design of the building’s wall insulation. The proposed method provides designers with a framework for latent carbon analysis to access quickly and select optimal scenarios. It can also be used without restrictions for other decisions with different goals and criteria.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment (LCA), Multi-objective optimization, Building energy analysis (BEA), Latent carbon, Nearly zero-energy building (nZEB), NSGA-II evolutionary algorithm.

Access date: June 27, 2024

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• Handbook of Energy Analysis Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) 

Main Subjects: Energy Management and Energy Efficiency

Publisher: - University Jihad Publishing Organization, Mazandaran branch, Iran 

Language: Persian 

Achievements:

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), buildings are the largest worldwide consumers of energy. Most of the energy used by any building is consumed during the usage (or operational) stage of the building’s life-cycle. Achieving sustainable development at the national level will require minimizing the effects of buildings on the environment with the low energy consumed by buildings. The energy performance of a given building is predicted and assessed by conducting an energy simulation. Using BIM in EPAs greatly reduces time and costs. The purpose of this study was to optimize energy consumption in buildings, using Building Information Modeling Technology (BIM), which can assess energy performance in the building. In this research, the general form of the building was modeled in the Autodesk Revit Software. After reviewing the proposed designs, the main form of the building was selected for modeling. Then, according to the type of materials consumed, the equipment and location of the project, the calculation of the energy consumption of the building was carried out using relevant tools in this scope. Finally, the best possible mode was chosen by examining different energy consumption modes. The results of energy simulation showed that 61.48% of the difference between the best mode of energy consumption optimization and the current state of the building, as well as 79.35%, is compared to the initial state. Finally, parametric studies of alternative cost optimization schemes showed that saving 58.23% of the building's current status for a 30-year horizon.

Keywords: Energy consumption, Energy performance assessment (EPA), Energy simulation, Optimize energy consumption, Building energy efficiency, Building information modeling (BIM).

Published on: March 1, 2024

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• Energy Analysis for Construction of a Zero-Energy Residential Building Using Thermal Simulation in Iran

Main Subjects: Renewable Energies

Publisher: - International Journal of Energy Sector Management (IJESM)

- Emerald Publishing Limited

Achievements:

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and design of zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in cold and semi-arid climates. In this study, to maximize the use of renewable energy, energy consumption is diminished using passive solar architecture systems and techniques. The case study is a residential building with a floor area of 100 ㎡ and four inhabitants in the cold and semi-arid climate, northeast of Iran. For thermal simulations, the climate data such as air temperature, sunshine hours, wind, precipitation, and hourly sunlight, are provided by the meteorological station and weather databases of the region. DesignBuilder software is applied for simulation and dynamic analysis of the building, as well as PVsyst software to design and evaluate renewable energy performance. The simulation results show a 30% decrease in annual energy consumption of the building by complying with the principles of passive design (optimal selection of direction, Trombe wall, shade, proper insulation selection) from 25,443 kWh to 17,767 kWh. Then, the solar energy photovoltaic (PV) system is designed using PVsyst software, taking into account the annual energy requirement and the system’s annual energy yield is estimated to be 26,291 kWh. The adaptive comparison of the values obtained from the energy analysis indicated that constructing a ZEB is feasible in cold and semi-arid conditions and is considered an effective step to achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly construction.

Keywords: Energy sector, Renewable energies, Solar, Energy conversion, Construction, Simulation, Optimization, Zero-energy building, Energy management, Sustainable development, Renewable energy, Photovoltaic, Residential building.

Access date: June 3, 2021

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• Energy Consumption Management of Commercial Buildings by Optimizing the Angle of Solar Panels

Main Subjects: Solar Energy

Publisher: - Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment (JREE)

- Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC) 

- Iranian Association of Chemical Engineers (IAChE)

Achievements:

One of the main reasons for environmental pollution is energy consumption in buildings. Today, the use of renewable energy sources is increasing dramatically. Among these sources, solar energy has favorable costs for various applications. This study examined a commercial building in a hot and humid climate. The findings showed that choosing the optimal angle of solar panels with the goal of optimized energy consumption would yield reduced costs and fewer environmental pollutants with the least cost and maximum energy absorption. In this study, to calculate the energy requirements of the building, DesignBuilder software was used. To study the solar angles and estimate the energy produced by the solar panels, Polysun software was used after simulating the building energy. Energy simulation results showed that the whole building’s energy consumption was 26,604 kWh/year. Finally, the evaluation results of solar panels showed that the energy produced by photovoltaic modules at an optimal angle of 31° would be equal to 26,978 kWh/year, which is more than the energy required by the building. This system can prevent 14,471 kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually. In this study, sustainable energy criteria showed that photovoltaic modules can be used in energy production to achieve a zero energy system connected to the grid with an annual energy balance.

Keywords: Optimal Angle, Renewable Energy, Photovoltaic Modules, Energy Efficiency, Energy Consumption Management.

Access date: January 25, 2021

[Link] [PDF]

• Building Energy Management Using Building Information Modeling: Evaluation of Building Components and Construction Materials

Main Subjects: Sustainable Development

Publisher: - Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment (JREE)

- Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC) 

- Iranian Association of Chemical Engineers (IAChE)

Achievements:

Traditionally, the building energy model is created in isolation from the architectural building information model and energy analyses have relied on a single analysis tool. The building energy model can be generated more quickly by leveraging existing data from the BIM. The impacts of energy consumption are significant in the building usage phase, which can last several decades. Due to the large share of the final energy consumption in the building sector, accurate analysis of the thermal and cooling loads of a building and the efforts to reduce energy losses represent an effective way to reduce energy consumption. Therefore, it’s essential to analyze the building energy performance in the design phase, which is when critical decisions are made. This study aims to investigate the impact of the building components and construction materials on building energy efficiency using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in a mild climate zone. After reviewing the proposed designs, the main building form was chosen for energy modeling and analysis. Then, building energy consumption analysis was performed based on the basic parameters of the building energy model. Eventually, the most optimal mode was selected by examining different energy consumption forms. This study showed that the building HVAC system always had the largest share of energy consumption. Finally, the results of parametric studies on alternative schemes of energy use intensity optimization showed that 22.59% savings could be achieved as compared to the base building model in a 30-year time horizon.

Keywords: Building Energy Efficiency, Software Simulation, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Mild Climate, Energy Performance Assessment (EPA).

Access date: January 20, 2021

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• BIM-Based Optimum Design and Energy Performance Assessment of Residential Buildings

Main Subjects: Energy Conservation and Efficiency

Publisher: - Journal of Energy Management and Technology (JEMT)

- Iran Energy Association (IEA)

Achievements:

Buildings are the largest energy consumer in the world, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Most of the energy will be used during the building life-cycle stage. Thus, achieving sustainable development at the national level requires minimizing the impact of buildings on the environment by reducing energy consumption. Using Building Information Modeling technology in energy performance assessment could be significantly reduced time and cost. This study aimed to optimize energy consumption in a residential building using BIM technology. The main focus of this study was to evaluate energy performance through the simultaneous evaluation of building components using BIM technology with a conceptual design approach, comparison, and reduction of energy consumption. To investigate different design ideas were created several conceptual masses in Autodesk Revit software with a top-down design approach. After reviewing the conceptual masses, the main building form was chosen for modeling. Then, building energy consumption was computed using related tools in this field, based on the type of materials, equipment, and project location. Finally, the most optimal mode was selected by examining different energy consumption forms. The results of parametric studies on alternative schemes of energy optimization showed that 58.46% of energy cost savings could be achieved compared to the initial model of the building on a 30-year time horizon.

Keywords: Energy consumption, Energy performance assessment (EPA), Energy simulation, Building energy efficiency, Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Access date: October 11, 2020

[Link] [PDF]

• Effective Energy Consumption Parameters in Residential Buildings Using Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Main Subjects: Energy and Environment

Publisher: - Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management (GJESM)

- Iran Solid Waste Association, Tehran University, Iran

Achievements:

Building information modeling can help in predicting energy efficiency in the future based on dynamic patterns obtained by visualization of data. This study aimed to investigate the effective parameters of energy consumption using BIM technology which can evaluate the building’s energy performance. First, three forms of general states in the building were modeled to evaluate the proposed designs in Autodesk Revit Software. Then, the main building form for energy modeling and analysis was selected. Autodesk Revit 2020 software was also used to obtain the results of climate data analysis and building energy consumption index. Finally, the optimal mode was selected by examining different energy consumption modes. The results showed that the use of building information modeling technology in adjusting the parameters affecting energy consumption can save energy costs up to 58.23% in block D. Energy cost savings for block C and the western lobby were obtained as 51.03% and 43.05%, respectively. Based on energy use intensity, energy cost savings for blocks C, D, and the western lobby were estimated as 16.67%, 16.30%, and 11%, respectively. The results of parametric studies on alternative energy use intensity optimization schemes showed that 16.30% savings could be achieved by the base building model in a 30-year time horizon. Therefore, it was concluded that optimizing energy consumption would reduce environmental pollutant emissions and contribute to the preservation and sustainability of the environment.

Keywords: Building energy conservation, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Energy efficiency, Energy management, Energy simulation.

Access date: October 1, 2020

[Link] [PDF]