Energy Efficiency Indicators and the First Design Stages for Commercial Centers after the Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in the last quarter of 2019, has seriously affected the global economy, including sectors such as the energy and building industries. Studies of COVID-19 transmission indicate a direct relationship between the number of occupants in a building and the risk of infection. The aims of this study were to focus on workplace density strategies as a primary, overlooked factor that can affect energy consumption and the risk of transmission of viruses within buildings and to determine optimal workplace density strategies to reduce energy consumption, especially in commercial buildings. To this end, the practical approach was used by applying COVE.TOOL technology and data from COVID-19 tracking projects to the proposed occupant density after new design considerations for the food court of the Mall of Arabia – the most famous shopping mall in Egypt. This approach was also used to evaluate customer visits to reduce the spread of disease and improve their energy efficiency.