scholarly journals Multi-Objective Techno-Economic Optimization of Design Parameters for Residential Buildings in Different Climate Zones

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Georg Frey
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Load ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Climate Zones

The comprehensive approach for a building envelope design involves building performance simulations, which are time-consuming and require knowledge of complicated processes. In addition, climate variation makes the selection of these parameters more complex. The paper aims to establish guidelines for determining a single-family household’s unique optimal passive design in various climate zones worldwide. For this purpose, a bi-objective optimization is performed for twenty-four locations in twenty climates by coupling TRNSYS and a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-III) using the Python program. The optimization process generates Pareto fronts of thermal load and investment cost to identify the optimum design options for the insulation level of the envelope, window aperture for passive cooling, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), shading fraction, radiation-based shading control, and building orientation. The goal is to find a feasible trade-off between thermal energy demand and the cost of thermal insulation. This is achieved using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) through criteria importance using intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results demonstrate that an optimal envelope design remarkably improves the thermal load compared to the base case of previous envelope design practices. However, the weather conditions strongly influence the design parameters. The research findings set a benchmark for energy-efficient household envelopes in the investigated climates. The optimal solution sets also provide a criterion for selecting the ranges of envelope design parameters according to the space heating and cooling demands of the climate zone.

scholarly journals The use of multi-criteria optimization to choose solutions for energy-efficient buildings

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 815-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Basińska
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Energy Index ◽  
Global Cost ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
Installation Technology

AbstractThe goal of this paper was to optimize the building envelope and technical equipment in the building through the mitigation of the global cost value, and then to evaluate the influence of the chosen assumptions on the primary energy index. The analyses carried out using global cost method allow for finding the cost optimal solution but only for the some range of primary energy index variability. In order to find the optimal solutions it was proposed to use the multi-criteria optimisation, assuming the following as basic criteria: a global cost value and investment prices increase (economic criteria), a primary energy index (energy-related criterion), an emission of carbon dioxide (environmental criterion). The analysed case study refers to the technical solutions for the residential buildings with the usable energy demand at the level of 40 and 15 kWh/m2/a. The presented method might be applied to different types of buildings: those being designed and those being the subject of the thermo-modernisation. The results demonstrate that the proposed model allows for classification of the alternative technical solutions regarding the designing process and the building’s technical equipment. The carried out analyses indicate the economic possibility to achieve the low energy building standard and show the need to concentrate the activities related to the installation technology and used energy source.

scholarly journals Early stage Design Workflow for high Energy Performance Multi-storey Residential Buildings

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hachem ◽  
R. Beckett
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Stage Design ◽  
Early Stage Design

This paper presents a methodology to optimize building envelope energy performance for multi-storey residential buildings using a design performance model approach. Five analysis techniques, applied to a database of parametric simulation results, are proposed to derive information on various building performance features that can support early design decisions. Information may include optimal combination of design parameter values to achieve lowest energy consumption, or the relative impact of design parameters on a given design, such as a base case. A workflow template is established to provide support for the design process of energy efficient multi-storey residential buildings. This template can form a basis for the development of an interactive tool that integrates energy performance principles into early stage design decisions. The application of this methodology to a building in Vancouver (BC, Canada, 49°N) is presented as a case study. Results of this application demonstrates that adopting a specific combination of building envelope parameters, thermal load can be reduced by up to 85% as compared to a base case designed according to commonly built apartment buildings in the studied location.  

ENHANCING THERMAL COMFORT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THROUGH A DUAL FUNCTIONAL PASSIVE SYSTEM (SOLAR-WALL)

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-177
Author(s):  
Shouib Mabdeh ◽  
Tamer Al Radaideh ◽  
Montaser Hiyari
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Passive System ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Dual Functional ◽  
Solar Wall ◽  
New System

ABSTRACT Thermal comfort has a great impact on occupants’ productivity and general well-being. Since people spend 80–90% of their time indoors, developing the tools and methods that enhance the thermal comfort for building are worth investigating. Previous studies have proved that using passive systems like Trombe walls and solar chimneys significantly enhanced thermal comfort in inside spaces despite that each system has a specific purpose within a specific climate condition. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to design and configure a new, dual functional passive system, called a solar wall. The new system combines the Trombe wall and solar chimney, and it can cool or heat based on building needs. Simulation software, DesignBuilder, has been used to configure the Solar Wall, and study its impact on indoor operative temperature for the base case. Using the new system, the simulation results were compared with those obtained in the base case and analyzed to determine the most efficient system design parameters and implementation method. The case that gave the best results for solar wall configuration was triple glazed glass and 0.1 cm copper as an absorber (case 11). The results show that using four units (case D) achieves longer thermal comfort levels: 15 to 24 thermal hours during winter (compared to five hours maximum) and 10 to 19 comfort hours in summer (compared to zero).

ENHANCING THERMAL COMFORT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THROUGH DUAL FUNCTIONAL PASSIVE SYSTEM (SOLAR-WALL)

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-161
Author(s):  
Shouib Mabdeh ◽  
Tamer Al Radaideh ◽  
Montaser Hiyari
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Passive System ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Dual Functional ◽  
Solar Wall ◽  
New System

ABSTRACT Thermal comfort has a great effect on occupants’ productivity and general well-being. Since people spend 80–90% of their time indoors, developing the tools and methods that help in enhancing the thermal comfort for buildings are worth investigating. Previous studies have proved that using passive systems like Trombe walls and solar chimneys significantly enhanced thermal comfort in inside spaces despite that each system has a specific purpose within a specific climate condition. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to design and configure a new dual functional passive system, called a solar wall. The new system combines the Trombe wall and solar chimney, and it can cool or heat based on building needs. Simulation software, DesignBuilder, has been used to configure the Solar Wall and study its impact on indoor operative temperature for the base case. Using the new system, the simulation results were compared with those obtained in the base case and analyzed to determine the most efficient system design parameters and implementation method. The case that gave the best results for solar wall configuration was triple glazed glass and 0.1 cm copper as an absorber (case 11). The results show that using four units (case D) achieves longer thermal comfort levels: 15 to 24 thermal hours during winter (compared to five hours maximum) and 10 to 19 comfort hours in summer (compared to zero).

Parametric study of the impact of building envelope systems on embodied and operational carbon of residential buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amneh Hamida ◽  
Abdulsalam Alsudairi ◽  
Khalid Alshaibani ◽  
Othman Alshamrani
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Block Wall ◽  
Shading Device ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total Life

PurposeBuildings are responsible for the consumption of around 40% of energy in the world and account for one-third of greenhouses gas emissions. In Saudi Arabia, residential buildings consume half of total energy among other building sectors. This study aims to explore the impact of sixteen envelope variables on the operational and embodied carbon of a typical Saudi house with over 20 years of operation.Design/methodology/approachA simulation approach has been adopted to examine the effects of envelope variables including external wall type, roof type, glazing type, window to wall ratio (WWR) and shading device. To model the building and define the envelope materials and quantify the annual energy consumption, DesignBuilder software was used. Following modelling, operational carbon was calculated. A “cradle-to-gate” approach was adopted to assess embodied carbon during the production of materials for the envelope variables based on the Inventory of Carbon Energy database.FindingsThe results showed that operational carbon represented 90% of total life cycle carbon, whilst embodied carbon accounted for 10%. The sensitivity analysis revealed that 25% WWR contributes to a significant increase in operational carbon by 47.4%. Additionally, the efficient block wall with marble has a major embodiment of carbon greater than the base case by 10.7%.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is a contribution to the field of calculating the embodied and operational carbon emissions of a residential unit. Besides, it provides an examination of the impact of each envelope variable on both embodied and operational carbon. This study is limited by the impact of sixteen envelope variables on the embodied as well as operational carbon.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt on investigating the effects of envelop variables on carbon footprint for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia.

The applicability of nearly/net zero energy residential buildings in Brazil – A study of a low standard dwelling in three different Brazilian climate zones

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2096115
Author(s):  
Jaime Resende ◽  
Marta Monzón-Chavarrías ◽  
Helena Corvacho
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Performance Standard ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Climate Zones ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero

Buildings account for 34% of world energy consumption and about half of electricity consumption. The nearly/Net Zero Energy Building (nZEB/NZEB) concepts are regarded as solutions for minimizing this problem. The countries of Southern Europe, which included the nZEB concept recently in their regulatory requirements, have both heating and cooling needs, which adds complexity to the problem. Brazil may benefit from their experience since most of the Brazilian climate zones present significant similarities to the Southern European climate. Brazil recently presented a household energy consumption increase, and a growing trend in the use of air conditioning is predicted for the coming decades. Simulations with various wall and roof solutions following the Brazilian Performance Standard were carried out in a low standard single-family house in three different climate zones in order to evaluate thermal comfort conditions and energy needs. Results show that in milder climate zones, achieving thermal comfort with a low energy consumption is possible, and there is a great potential to achieve a net zero-energy balance. In the extreme hot climate zone, a high cooling energy consumption is needed to provide thermal comfort, and the implementation of a nearly zero-energy balance may be more feasible.

scholarly journals Study on Multi-Objective Optimization-Based Climate Responsive Design of Residential Building

Algorithms ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 238
Author(s):  
Zhixing Li ◽  
Paolo Vincenzo Genovese ◽  
Yafei Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private Households ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Global Cost ◽  
Responsive Design

This paper proposes an optimization process based on a parametric platform for building climate responsive design. Taking residential buildings in six typical American cities as examples, it proposes thermal environment comfort (Discomfort Hour, DH), building energy demand (BED) and building global cost (GC) as the objective functions for optimization. The design variables concern building orientation, envelope components, and window types, etc. The optimal solution is provided from two different perspectives of the public sector (energy saving optimal) and private households (cost-optimal) respectively. By comparing the optimization results with the performance indicators of the reference buildings in various cities, the outcome can give the precious indications to rebuild the U.S. residential buildings with a view to energy-efficiency and cost optimality depending on the location.

scholarly journals Cost reduction of the new NZEB Wooden building – case study of the kindergarten in Estonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 13002
Author(s):  
Endrik Arumägi ◽  
Targo Kalamees
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Optimal Point ◽  
Class B ◽  
The Cost

In this study the cost changes caused by the implementation of the nZEB solutions are calculated. The energy demand of a building was calculated according to the methodology for calculating the energy efficiency of buildings, using dynamic energy simulations. The financial calculations are based on the methodology described in Delegated Regulation (EU) No 244/2012 of the European Commission. The simulations and calculations for assessing the cost-effectiveness of technical solutions are based on the selected sample building. The energy efficiency solutions are derived by increasing/decreasing the insulation value of the building envelope in subsequent steps. Financial calculations were based on the investment needed to achieve the nearly zero-energy levels. The results for different combinations vary to a large degree. According to regulations new building must fulfill the low energy building (EPI class “B”) requirement without local production. The EPI value to fulfill the requirement in the cost-even range is reached in case of the GSHP and efficient DH. In case of the GSHP and efficient DH also the cost-optimal point is in the EPI class “B”. Overall the minimum ΔNPV values stay below the zero line in all the cases offering a range of opportunities to choose combinations to reach lover EPI compared to base case. The results of cost-effectiveness calculations for selected building with different combinations of structural solutions and heat sources show the possible different scenarios to reach nZEB level and the possible cost reduction.

scholarly journals Energy efficiency and economic analysis of retrofit measures for single-family residential buildings

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3 Part B) ◽  
pp. 2071-2084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Harmathy ◽  
Danijela Urbancl ◽  
Darko Goricanec ◽  
Zoltán Magyar
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Expanded Polystyrene ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Single Family

The research elaborates various solutions using detailed economic evaluation and energy efficiency calculation and simulation technology for formulating applicable, energy and cost-efficient retrofit solutions of single-family residential buildings located in temperate climate areas. Primarily the annual energy demand for a reference existing single-family residential building was determined. The economic analysis was performed for six formulated refurbishment scenarios in order to determine which of the scenarios will demonstrate optimal performance both in energy and cost efficiency. A feasibility study was performed for the most efficient scenario, which included an economic evaluation of low temperature radiant heating systems were three energy suppliers (oil, natural gas and electricity for air to water heat pump) were compared. According to financial analyses the optimal scenario includes the replacement of windows, installation of 15 cm expanded polystyrene thermal insulation, low temperature radiant floor heating, with a payback period of ten years.

scholarly journals Improvement of Daylight Factor Model for Window Size Optimization and Energy Efficient Building Envelope Designs

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-221
Author(s):  
Chahrazed Mebarki ◽  
◽  
Essaid Djakab ◽  
Abderrahmane Mejedoub Mokhtari ◽  
Youssef Amrane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Window Size ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Nsga Ii ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Building Model ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
The Impact

Based on a new approach for the prediction of the Daylight Factor (DF), using existing empirical models, this research work presents an optimization of window size and daylight provided by the glazed apertures component for a building located in a hot and dry climate. The new approach aims to improve the DF model, considering new parameters for daylight prediction such as the orientation, sky conditions, daytime, and the geographic location of the building to fill in all the missing points that the standard DF, defined for an overcast sky, presents. The enhanced DF model is considered for the optimization of window size based on Non dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA II), for heating and cooling season, taking into account the impact of glazing type, space reflectance and artificial lighting installation. Results of heating and cooling demand are compared to a recommended building model for hot and dry climate with 10% Window to Wall Ratio (WWR) for single glazing. The optimal building model is then validated using a dynamic convective heat transfer simulation. As a result, a reduction of 48% in energy demand and 21.5% in CO2 emissions can be achieved. The present approach provides architects and engineers with a more accurate daylight prediction model considering the effect of several parameters simultaneously. The new proposed approach, via the improved DF model, gives an optimal solution for window design to minimize building energy demand while improving the indoor comfort parameters.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document