Passive building characteristics, and summertime residential energy use: A spatial analysis of energy efficiency in Gainesville, FL

Passive design and landscape variables (e.g., rooftop albedo and shading vegetation) are frequently proposed as important green building techniques. However, there is a paucity of literature demonstrating their large-scale effects with empirically measured building stocks and observed residential energy consumption. This paper uses a spatial Durbin error model (SDEM) approach to test the effects of passive building performance indicators, such as orientation, albedo, and NDVI, on city-wide summertime household billed energy data in Gainesville, FL. Our findings suggest that vegetation and albedo reduce energy consumption, but our model did not produce similar significant results for building orientation and footprint compactness. These results provide evidence to suggest high albedo roofing and purposeful shading are important energy conservation strategies for energy-efficient residential neighborhoods. •This study uses a spatial Durbin error model (SDEM) to test the effects of passive design elements on energy consumption patterns in Gainsville, FL.•NDVI, as a proxy for near home vegetation and shade, has significant direct and indirect (spillover) effects on reducing summertime energy consumption.•Rooftop albedo (reflectivity) has significant direct effects on reducing summertime energy consumption, even in a context where there are few “high albedo” roofs.•Roof-top albedo is emperically correlated with reductions in energy consumption in our study sample.•Building codes may discourage maximizing energy reductions from passive design by setting minimum standards which may lead to offsetting.