Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time
Building energy design is a multi-objective optimization problem where collective and private perspectives conflict each other. For instance, whereas the collectivity pursues the minimization of environmental impact, the private pursues the maximization of financial viability. Solving such trade-off...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/7/1016 |
| _version_ | 1798043551232163840 |
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| author | Mohamed Hamdy Gerardo Maria Mauro |
| author_facet | Mohamed Hamdy Gerardo Maria Mauro |
| author_sort | Mohamed Hamdy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Building energy design is a multi-objective optimization problem where collective and private perspectives conflict each other. For instance, whereas the collectivity pursues the minimization of environmental impact, the private pursues the maximization of financial viability. Solving such trade-off design problems usually involves a big computational cost for exploring a huge solution domain including a large number of design options. To reduce that computational cost, a bi-objective simulation-based optimization algorithm, developed in a previous study, is applied in the present investigation. The algorithm is implemented for minimizing the CO2-eq emissions and the discounted payback time (DPB) of a single-family house in cold climate, where 13,456 design solutions including building envelope and heating system options are explored and compared to a predefined reference case. The whole building life is considered by assuming a calculation period of 30 years. The results show that the type of heating system significantly affects energy performance; notably, the ground source heat pump leads to the highest reduction in CO2-eq emissions, around 1300 kgCO2-eq/m2, with 17 year DPB; the oil fire boiler can provide the lowest DPB, equal to 8.5 years, with 850 kgCO2-eq/m2 reduction. In addition, it is shown that using too high levels of thermal insulation is not an effective solution as it causes unacceptable levels of summertime overheating. Finally a multi-objective decision making approach is proposed in order to enable the stakeholders to choice among the optimal solutions according to the weight given to each objective, and thus to each perspective. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:50:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-392206d02a974f9989063c38d103a8a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:50:41Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-392206d02a974f9989063c38d103a8a02022-12-22T03:58:35ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732017-07-01107101610.3390/en10071016en10071016Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback TimeMohamed Hamdy0Gerardo Maria Mauro1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Byggteknisk, 2-236, Gløshaugen, Høgskoleringen 7A, Trondheim 7491, NorwayDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, Naples 80125, ItalyBuilding energy design is a multi-objective optimization problem where collective and private perspectives conflict each other. For instance, whereas the collectivity pursues the minimization of environmental impact, the private pursues the maximization of financial viability. Solving such trade-off design problems usually involves a big computational cost for exploring a huge solution domain including a large number of design options. To reduce that computational cost, a bi-objective simulation-based optimization algorithm, developed in a previous study, is applied in the present investigation. The algorithm is implemented for minimizing the CO2-eq emissions and the discounted payback time (DPB) of a single-family house in cold climate, where 13,456 design solutions including building envelope and heating system options are explored and compared to a predefined reference case. The whole building life is considered by assuming a calculation period of 30 years. The results show that the type of heating system significantly affects energy performance; notably, the ground source heat pump leads to the highest reduction in CO2-eq emissions, around 1300 kgCO2-eq/m2, with 17 year DPB; the oil fire boiler can provide the lowest DPB, equal to 8.5 years, with 850 kgCO2-eq/m2 reduction. In addition, it is shown that using too high levels of thermal insulation is not an effective solution as it causes unacceptable levels of summertime overheating. Finally a multi-objective decision making approach is proposed in order to enable the stakeholders to choice among the optimal solutions according to the weight given to each objective, and thus to each perspective.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/7/1016building performance simulationenergy designheating systemsbuilding envelopemulti-objective optimizationPareto frontgenetic algorithmlow-carbon buildings |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Hamdy Gerardo Maria Mauro Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time Energies building performance simulation energy design heating systems building envelope multi-objective optimization Pareto front genetic algorithm low-carbon buildings |
| title | Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time |
| title_full | Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time |
| title_fullStr | Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time |
| title_short | Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Energy Design to Reconcile Collective and Private Perspectives: CO2-eq vs. Discounted Payback Time |
| title_sort | multi objective optimization of building energy design to reconcile collective and private perspectives co2 eq vs discounted payback time |
| topic | building performance simulation energy design heating systems building envelope multi-objective optimization Pareto front genetic algorithm low-carbon buildings |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/7/1016 |
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