Evaluating Passive Housing Strategies in Extreme Climates: A Case Study of Dubai Using PHPP and IESVE Models

The increasing global emphasis on sustainable architecture necessitates precise building energy modeling, especially in regions marked by extreme climates. The focus of this study is to evaluate the potential and practicality of passive housing strategies in climates similar to Dubai. In this study, we employed the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) to create a meticulous representation of the Dubai environmental conditions, ensuring that detailed architectural elements and HVAC systems were captured to provide the most energy-efficient architecture. To validate the accuracy of the model, consumption data from 2020 was used as a benchmark, reflecting the observed hot water and electricity consumption. Additionally, we developed a linear state-space model using IES Virtual Environment software (IESVE) to capture the dynamic thermal behaviour of the proposed building. We assessed the merits of the Passivhaus model in harsh climates and compared them with those of various space calculation methodologies. The model showed significant congruence with the actual consumption data and external temperature metrics for 2020. Furthermore, the state-space model, along with its various state variables, inputs, and outputs, aligned well with the real-world observations. The results indicate that the Passivhaus model possesses significant potential to reduce carbon emissions, highlighted by a detected 10% variance in energy consumption during the simulated summer peak. Differences in space calculation methodologies were also determined, emphasising the necessity of context-driven architectural evaluation. This study provides invaluable insights into the energy dynamics of contemporary buildings and emphasises the transformative potential of passive housing in extreme climates.