Designing energy demand: An integrated architecture–energy framework for off-grid residential housing

How does architectural design decisions directly influence the performance, reliability, and cost of off-grid energy systems?

Currently under review with Energy and Buildings, this research investigates how architectural design decisions directly influence the performance, reliability, and cost of off-grid energy systems.

Through the development and testing of the Architecture–Energy Integration Framework (AEIF), the study demonstrates that energy demand should be treated as a design-dependent variable rather than a fixed input. Using a real-world off-grid home in regional New South Wales as a case study, the research links passive design strategies, spatial planning, solar modelling, and energy system optimisation within a unified workflow.

Findings

The findings show that integrating architectural design with energy-system modelling can reduce battery storage requirements by 18.6% and overall system costs by approximately 15% while maintaining high system reliability. The research provides a practical framework for architects, engineers, and policymakers seeking more resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable approaches to autonomous housing.