Influence of Energy Conservation Measures on the Load Profile of Homes in a Tropical Climate: Case Study in Bucaramanga, Colombia

The residential sector represents a significant part of energy consumption in tropical countries, where the climate directly influences the demand for ventilation and air conditioning. In cities like Bucaramanga (Colombia), the growth of building stock and the increased use of electrical appliances highlight the need for energy efficiency strategies. Although Colombia has made regulatory progress—such as Resolution 0549 of 2015—its application in residential buildings, especially in warm climates, remains underexplored. This study analyzes the impact of energy-saving measures on the demand profile of a middle-income residential building located in a tropical warm climate. The implementation of strategies recommended by Resolution 0549-2015 was evaluated through energy simulations using DesignBuilder V6. The methodology considered five scenarios: an existing building, one representing typical features of the current building stock, and three others that incorporate horizontal shading, natural ventilation, and variations in the window-to-wall ratio. The results showed a 20% reduction in energy consumption in the existing building compared to the reference model, mainly due to improvements in lighting and elevator efficiency. It is concluded that the proposed energy-saving measures are effective only when air conditioning systems are present and that their implementation can help reduce transformer loads. This study offers a valuable local contribution, being one of the first in Colombia to examine residential building design from an energy efficiency perspective, based on national regulations and simulation tools.