The surface area to volume (S/V) ratio (the three dimensional extrapolation of the perimeter to area ratio) is an important factor determining heat loss and gain. The greater the surface area the more the heat gain/ loss through it. So small S/V ratios imply minimum heat gain and minimum heat loss.
To minimize the losses and gains through the fabric of a building a compact shape is desirable. The most compact orthogonal building would then be a cube. This configuration, however, may place a large portion of the floor area far from perimeter daylighting. Contrary to this, a building massing that optimizes daylighting and ventilation would be elongated so that more of the building area is closer to the perimeter. While this may appear to compromise the thermal performance of the building, the electrical load and cooling load savings achieved by a well-designed daylighting system will more than compensate for the increased fabric losses.
In hot dry climates S/V ratio should be as low as possible as this would minimize heat gain. In cold-dry climates also S/V ratios should be as low as possible to minimize heat losses. In warm-humid climates the prime concern is creating airy spaces. This might not necessarily minimize the S/V ratio. Further, the materials of construction should be such that they do not store heat.
