Assessing the Energy Performance of Low-Rise Modularised Lightweight Steel-Framed Residential Buildings in China: Case Study of a Shanghai Suburb

The development of low-rise modularised lightweight steel-framed (MLSF) residential buildings in China has significant potential to contribute to the country’s effort to reduce energy consumption. However, to fully realise this potential, it is crucial to assess the energy performance of these buildings and identify opportunities for further optimisation. This paper elucidates the main factors in the energy performance of low-rise MLSF residential buildings and presents a case study in suburban Shanghai, in China’s hot-summer-cold-winter (HSCW) zone. The preliminary results indicated that optimised building envelope thermal performance could significantly improve the energy efficiency of MLSF buildings, leading to a reduction of up to 40% in total energy and up to 68% in heating energy compared to the latest baseline standard. This paper advances the understanding of the energy performance of low-rise MLSF residential buildings in China and provides valuable insights to promote energy-efficient building practices in the HSCW zone.