Area to Volume ratio of Buildings

According to the Building Research Establishment, the compactness of a building as indicated by its A/V Ratio (A: Building Envelope Surface Area, V:Volume of building) has a considerable influence on the heating demand of buildings, regardless of the level of fabric insulation. Buildings with the same U-values, orientation, glazing area and air change rates will have different heat demands depending on their A/V ratio. The more compact the building, and the lower the A/V ratio, the better.

BRE advises that the most cost effective A/V ratio for energy efficient buildings is < 0.7m2/m3