BIM‑Based Energy Optimization and Sustainability Enhancement in the Iranian Construction Industry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Civil Engineering, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The Iranian construction industry continues to face major challenges in reducing energy consumption and achieving sustainability targets. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers an integrated digital framework capable of linking design parameters with real energy‑performance indicators. This study develops and empirically validates a BIM‑based energy optimization model that examines the influence of five digital modeling dimensions, energy use intensity (EUI), HVAC simulation, daylighting control, CO₂ reduction, and renewable‑energy integration, on sustainability outcomes. Data were collected from 130 professionals across Iran and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and PLS‑SEM. The model demonstrated strong validity (KMO = 0.874, CR > 0.90, AVE > 0.68) and explained 68% of the variance in sustainability performance (R² = 0.68). Among all predictors, BIM‑HVAC showed the strongest impact on energy efficiency (β = 0.284, p < 0.001). Bootstrapping results confirmed the significance of all hypothesized relationships, highlighting BIM as a strategic mechanism for energy‑efficient design and carbon‑emission reduction. This research contributes to BIM‑sustainability literature by providing a validated quantitative framework tailored to the Iranian construction context. Practical implications include guidelines for integrating BIM‑energy protocols capable of reducing energy consumption by up to 30%. Future studies should extend the framework through AI‑based predictive analytics and longitudinal performance tracking.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 2, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 33-48
  • Receive Date: 30 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 08 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 06 February 2026
  • First Publish Date: 07 February 2026