Design of Sustainable and Energy Efficient Building Energy Analysis using Revit Insight

Abstract

This report explores a comprehensive methodology for designing a sustainable and energy-efficient building in an urban region typified by a tropical wet and dry (semi-arid) climate. The climate presents unique challenges, including prolonged periods of intense summer heat, short but heavy monsoonal rainfall and mild winters. These conditions necessitate a climate-sensitive architectural response that minimizes energy consumption while maximizing occupant comfort and long-term performance.The design process leverages Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Autodesk Revit, enabling a fully integrated workflow that spans from 2D planning to 3D modeling, energy analysis and performance visualization. The building’s orientation and form are optimized to reduce solar heat gain by aligning the longer facade along the north-south axis and minimizing exposure to the harsh western sun. Passive strategies such as cross-ventilation, shading devices and strategic zoning of high-occupancy spaces enhance thermal comfort and reduce reliance on mechanical cooling systems. The building envelope is modeled with attention to energy efficiency, incorporating insulated wall assemblies, high-performance glazing and passive solar controls. A solar path and shadow analysis guides the placement of fenestration and shading elements to reduce cooling loads while maximizing daylight.The Revit platform facilitates real-time synchronization across 2D and 3D views, automated material take off schedules and coordination of annotations, ensuring design precision and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also enables seamless export to energy simulation tools such as Insight 360, Green Building Studio and Tally for life cycle assessment, this report demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainable design that balances climate responsiveness, occupant wellbeing and technological innovation. By integrating passive architecture, intelligent material uses and BIM-enabled workflows, the design achieves measurable reductions in operational energy demand, enhances long-term adaptability, and contributes meaningfully to the built environment of urban region.

Introduction

With rapid urbanization and growing environmental concerns, the construction industry must adopt sustainable building practices to reduce energy use and carbon emissions while improving occupant comfort. Buildings account for about 40% of global energy consumption, highlighting the urgent need for energy-efficient designs.

This report focuses on developing a replicable, sustainable design methodology tailored for hot and composite climates like Hyderabad, India, emphasizing passive, climate-responsive architectural strategies over energy-intensive mechanical systems. Key strategies include optimizing building orientation, natural ventilation, solar shading, and using high-performance materials to reduce energy demand and improve indoor comfort.

Central to this methodology is the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) through Autodesk Revit, coupled with Revit Insight for data-driven energy performance analysis. These tools enable integrated design, real-time feedback, and simulation of energy metrics such as Energy Use Intensity (EUI), solar exposure, and daylighting, facilitating informed design decisions early in the process.

The study excludes mechanical system design to focus on architectural and envelope strategies, disproving misconceptions that sustainable design is costly or technologically inaccessible by demonstrating cost-effective, BIM-enabled workflows.

Objectives:

• Create sustainable building designs using Autodesk Revit

• Evaluate energy efficiency with Revit Insight

• Enhance building envelopes through passive design

• Assess environmental and financial impacts of design choices

Research Methodology:
A four-phase BIM-based approach combines parametric modeling, energy simulation, lifecycle assessment (LCA), and validation:

1. Parametric Modeling in Revit with Dynamo to optimize orientation, window ratios, shading, and natural ventilation.

2. Energy Performance Simulation using Revit Insight, Green Building Studio, and Ladybug tools to compare baseline and optimized designs for energy savings and daylight.

3. Lifecycle Assessment with Tally and One Click LCA to evaluate embodied carbon and material sustainability.

4. Validation & Sensitivity Analysis to ensure accuracy and identify critical design variables.

Design Process & Strategies:

• Structural grids and materials were defined for thermal efficiency.

• Passive strategies include north-south orientation, minimized west-facing windows, cross-ventilation, solar shading, and use of high thermal mass materials.

• 3D modeling automated from 2D plans, incorporating accurate thermal properties and solar analysis.

• Sustainable envelope design uses high-performance walls, roofs, glazing, and shading to reduce heat gain.

• Locally sourced, low-impact materials like fly ash bricks and AAC blocks are prioritized.

Climate Considerations:
The design minimizes solar heat gain via orientation and passive cooling techniques, validated through BIM tools, enhancing energy efficiency in the hot and monsoon-affected climate of Hyderabad.

Conclusion

Through targeted passive design strategies and iterative performance feedback using Revit Insight, our final optimized design achieved a 51% reduction in energy consumption, improved thermal and daylight comfort and meaningful cost savings all without relying on active mechanical systems. The design and analysis of this sustainable and energy-efficient building, using Autodesk Revit and Insight, has truly showcased the power of combining digital tools with passive architectural strategies to achieve performance-driven results. Our process began with conceptual 2D and 3D modeling, followed by space zoning, and ultimately culminated in iterative energy analysis. This approach successfully optimized the building\'s design for Hyderabad’s climate, all without introducing mechanical systems like HVAC or MEP. By applying an envelope-only analysis and utilizing Insight’s dynamic feedback, we were able to make data-informed decisions on key variables such as orientation, glazing, insulation, shading and form. As a result, the building’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI) was reduced by approximately 5%. We also saw improvements in daylight autonomy, thermal comfort and a significant reduction in long-term operational costs. This project not only demonstrates that sustainable architecture is achievable but also proves it can be substantially enhanced through digital design tools and iterative optimization. In the end, it sets a forward-thinking precedent for future developments aimed at creating low-energy, climate-responsive buildings.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Syed Wali Uddin, Dr. K. Mohammed Imthathullah Khan, Md Ubaidurrahman, Mohammad Kamaal Mohiuddin, Owais Haneef, RG Nauman Khan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.