Sensitivity analysis evaluating basic building geometry's effect on energy use

Building form does influence energy consumption. Designing low-energy architecture to minimize energy consumption requires thoughtful articulation of the shape and form of a building. The Architect's decision-making for more energy efficient building form is often based on rules of thumb. Historically, the rule of thumb regarding passive solar building design suggests that form and orientation matter to overall energy performance. The question of how much impact does form have varies between project to project, due to climate, location, and building size. However, evaluation of energy performance specifically relating to building form is difficult to quantify because of the large solution space, but nonetheless important to understand.