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Due to increase in climate change and urbanization, Net Zero Energy Buildings are one of the most
effective solutions in energy and building sectors. Techniques to decrease the cooling and heating
loads have been applied to buildings for centuries such as vernacular design. The challenge
researchers are facing in the current weather scenario is to retrofit different energy efficiency
measures to decrease energy load. These measures can be passive or active measures. In previous
research, energy refurbishment using more than five energy efficiency measures lacks for sub
tropic humid regions. The use of cork as insulation and heat pumps as energy efficiency measures
has not been performed before for sub tropic humid region. In this research, a building is modeled
with climatic data of Islamabad. It is later calibrated with mean bias error and calibration signature.
After the verification of simulated building, six energy efficiency measures are applied such as
insulation on external wall, insulation on roof, improvement of transparent objects, insulation on
ground floor, change of HVAC system and solar PV panels. First passive measures are applied to
the model and then active measures. Each energy efficiency measure is chosen on the basis of
availability, net present value and discounted payback time. The main concept behind the research
is to decrease the primary energy consumption of the building and excess energy can be exported.
After the implementation of EEM, it was observed that parameter with high effect on primary
energy consumption is as insulation on external with lowest effect that was of insulation on ground.
Solar panels are modeled in such a way that it provides excess energy for net metering. The
challenge to decrease the primary energy consumption can be solved by these measures. The policy
makers, engineers and architects can benefit from this research to further research on weather like
Islamabad that is sub tropic humid.