Optimization by Discomfort Minimization for Designing a Comfortable Net Zero Energy Building in the Mediterranean Climate

2013 ◽  
Vol 689 ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Carlucci ◽  
Lorenzo Pagliano ◽  
Paolo Zangheri
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Simulation Engine ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Adaptive Comfort ◽  
The Mediterranean

The energy design of a building is a multivariable problem, which can accept different sets of solutions. In this paper an integrated energy design process is proposed to support designers in identifying the most suitable set of passive solutions to guarantee a comfortable indoor environment and hence to minimize its energy needs for space conditioning. The proposed design process uses EnergyPlus as energy simulation engine, guided by GenOpt via some code written by the authors. The optimization aims at minimizing two seasonal long-term discomfort indices (based on the ASHRAE Adaptive comfort model) through the Particle swarm optimization algorithm. We test here the proposed process in a case study where we identify the most suitable envelope components and passive strategies for the design of a single-family net zero energy home located in the Mediterranean climate. The building is now actually under construction. It should be noted, however, that the modeling and the optimization approach outlined in this paper can be applied to any residential or commercial building prototype.

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.

Sustainable Design of Residential Net-Zero Energy Buildings: A Multi-Phase and Multi-Objective Optimization Approach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Lan ◽  
Kristin L. Wood ◽  
Chau Yuen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Net Zero Energy Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy Buildings

Abstract Zero energy building (ZEB) is an important concept for sustainable building design. This paper introduces a holistic design approach for residential net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) by adopting the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) principles: social, environmental, and financial. The proposed approach optimizes social need by maximizing thermal comfort time of natural cooling, and visual comfort time of daylighting. The environmental need is addressed by optimizing energy efficiency, and the financial need is addressed by optimizing life cycle cost (LCC). Multi-objective optimizations are conducted in two phases: the first phase optimizes the utilization rate of natural cooling and daylighting, and the second phase optimizes energy efficiency and LCC. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify the most influential variables in the optimization process. The approach is applied to the design of a landed house in a tropical country, Singapore. The results provide a framework and modeled cases for parametric design and trade-off analysis toward sustainable and livable built environment.

scholarly journals Towards Net-Zero Energy in Hot-Dry Regions: Building Envelope Design Strategies for Single-Family Homes

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Alyahya ◽  
Nawari O. Nawari
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
High Efficient ◽  
Design Proposal

Global climate change is serving as warning signs it gradually begins to capture the attention of people at large. Many actions have been and continue to be taken by governments and organizations to preserve the planet, which is impactful and needed. But conservation efforts are not exclusive to governments and large institutions- individuals can contribute in multiple ways that will have ripple effects, one being the choice to build sustainable, net-zero energy homes. Building a house that is a net-zero energy requires many strategies.One of the most compelling factors in reducing the home energy consumption, to then achieve a net-zero energy home especially in hot-dry regions, is the optimization of the building envelope performance. This paper discussed several building envelope design strategies that are suitable for homes in hot-dry regions and tested them.The Methods including analyzing case study from Qater by using computer and were analyzed using Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools for energy simulation programs. All those strategies were applied to a design proposal for a house in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is a hot-dry region. Further, the same simulation analyses were projected onto an identical house to the design proposal, but with a traditional, low-efficient building envelope.The results showed that the house with the high-efficient building envelope had 48% less energy consumption than the one that has the low-efficiency envelope.This research demonstrated the efficacy of the building envelope to reduce the energy consumption of single-family homes in hot-dry regions. The study outlines vital strategies for a high-efficient building envelope design in hot-dry areas that reaching net-zero energy homes and thus help to offset the negative impact of climate changes in arid areas.

Energy planning methodology of net-zero energy solar neighborhoods in the Mediterranean basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 928-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Guarino ◽  
Giovanni Tumminia ◽  
Sonia Longo ◽  
Marina Mistretta ◽  
Rossella Bilotta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Planning Methodology ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin
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