Carefully designing a building facade is the most crucial way to save energy, and a double-skin facade is an effective strategy for achieving energy efficiency. The improvement that can be made depends on how the double-skin facade is set up and what the weather conditions are like. This study was designed to investigate the best-case scenario with an appropriate double-skin facade configuration for optimizing building energy performance. A methodology for optimizing the building's initial condition was introduced using EnergyPlus and ClimateStudio according to a 1-year period of the city of Erbil. Analysis of double-skin parameters was performed by utilizing a multi-objective analysis approach. Four naturally ventilated geometric configurations were assessed: building-height, storey-height, shaft-box, and box-window. The results provide annual and seasonal consumption curves for each orientation. The massive airflow between adjacent thermal zones of a shaft-box facade significantly reduces the amount of cooling energy needed. Hence, due to the intricate internal partitioning that allows for airflow within the cavity and shaft, this design indicates multiple advantages over others. The annual cooling demand drops significantly, by 9% to 14%. Energy savings of up to 116,574 kWh per year are possible when using a double-skin facade compared to the building’s initial condition, which is a great asset in the temperate environment of Erbil.

Carefully designing a building façade is the most crucial way to save energy. A double skin façade is one of the effective strategies for achieving energy efficiency. This depends on the configuration chosen for the double skin façade that synchronizes with climate conditions. The study aims to investigate the best-case scenario with appropriate double-skin façade configuration for optimizing building energy performance. A methodology for optimizing the building's initial condition was introduced using EnergyPlus and ClimateStudio according to the one-year period of Erbil city. Analyzation of double skin parameters performed through utilizing a multi-objective analysis approach. Four geometric configurations were assessed; building-high, story-high, shaft-box, and box-window. The results offered annual and seasonal consumption curves for each orientation. Shaft-box double skin façade significantly reduces the amount of cooling energy due to massive airflow between two skins. a significant drop in the annual cooling demand of 9–14%. The use of an appropriate double skin façade greatly benefits Erbil city climate as it can result in annual energy savings of up to 116,574 kWh.