The world is emphasizing the need for building design that considers energy performance to deal with climate problems. South Korea has constantly been tightening the design standards for saving building energy but with a focus on thermal performance and equipment systems. Accordingly, this study conducted an energy simulation experiment on office buildings with different window-to-wall ratios (WWRs) to propose a smart glazing plan to improve energy performance. An energy simulation experiment was performed on office buildings with varying WWRs to hierarchically analyze the influence of building window performance elements, including the heat transmission coefficient (U-value), visible light transmittance (VLT), and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), on building energy performance. The analysis showed that SHGC had the most significant impact on the heating and cooling load, by 22.13%, with the influences of the variables being 12.4% for the U-value, 4.78% for VLT, and 82.83% for SHGC. The results showed that the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) had the greatest impact on energy performance among window performance elements, and the effect increased significantly in certain WWRs. Moreover, to improve the energy performance of buildings with higher WWRs, it is essential to reflect the optimum composition of the U-value and SHGC on the window plan. This study’s findings propose measures to supplement existing window plans focusing on thermal performance. Furthermore, these results hold academic value in providing concrete grounds for that.

We propose a technique that allows designers to develop energy-efficient buildings focused on occupants from the early design stage. The technique integrates the physiological responses of occupants and the energy performance of buildings. Among the architectural design elements, we considered the aspect ratio, ceiling height, and window-to-wall ratio as design variables and created 30 design alternatives for a single-occupancy room in a postpartum care center. These design alternatives were recreated in virtual reality, allowing 33 female participants to immerse themselves in the designed rooms. During the experiment, we collected electroencephalography (EEG) data from the participants. Furthermore, we used DesignBuilder to simulate 30 design alternatives and calculated the primary energy consumption per unit area for each alternative. By integrating the EEG data and energy performance analysis, we identified the design alternative among the 30 options that positively influenced the physiological responses of occupants while also being energy efficient. The selected alternative was designed with an aspect ratio of 1:1.6, a ceiling height of 2.3 m, and a window-to-wall ratio of 60%. This research represents a creative exploration that demonstrates how studies combining human physiological responses and architecture can evolve through integration with other subjects. Our findings provide a robust framework to explore the relationship between physiological responses and energy optimization for detailed architectural design elements.

This study examined public library use intensity across seven metropolitan cities in South Korea, considering spatial dependence and the surrounding urban environment. From 485 public libraries, model-specific analytical samples were constructed for visits per m², loans per m², and borrowers per m². Urban facility variables within 1- and 2-km catchments were used as predictors, and academy density was corrected using education office records geocoded using the Kakao Local API. Moran’s I and Anselin–Florax Lagrange Multiplier diagnostics were used to assess spatial dependence among libraries and compare ordinary least squares, spatial autoregressive (SAR), and spatial error model results. Moran’s I indicated significant spatial clustering across all three outcome variables. SAR results revealed that the indirect component accounted for 46.3% and 40.8% of the total academy effect on visits and loans per m², respectively, representing model-based indirect effects rather than direct evidence of user movement. A supplementary negative binomial model using library floor area as an exposure did not corroborate the academy-density association, indicating that this finding is specific to the area-normalized model rather than scale-invariant. These findings highlight the importance of considering spatial dependence and urban facility contexts when interpreting public library use intensity at the regional scale.