Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization
To achieve sustainable cities and communities, it is necessary to decarbonize existing buildings. Actions need to be taken to reduce the buildings’ energy demand and ensure that the low remaining demand is met by energy produced from renewable sources. This leads to Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs)...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/566 |
| _version_ | 1827306847087886336 |
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| author | Cristina Carpino Miguel Chen Austin Dafni Mora Natale Arcuri |
| author_facet | Cristina Carpino Miguel Chen Austin Dafni Mora Natale Arcuri |
| author_sort | Cristina Carpino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To achieve sustainable cities and communities, it is necessary to decarbonize existing buildings. Actions need to be taken to reduce the buildings’ energy demand and ensure that the low remaining demand is met by energy produced from renewable sources. This leads to Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs), whose impact on energy consumption is zero or positive, meaning that they are able to produce more energy than they require. The “zero” objective may be difficult to reach in hot and humid climates, where the cooling demand is prevalent. In this case, a combination of active and passive measures, together with appropriate interaction with users, is a viable way to obtain NZEBs. The present study aims to explore technological solutions for renovating existing buildings to NZEBs in a tropical climate. The analysis is developed through a parametric analysis, a sensitivity analysis, and an optimization directed at minimizing the site’s net energy and hours of discomfort. Evaluations are conducted for a case study consisting of a single-family house located in Panama City. The results showed that photovoltaic size, cooling operation schedule, and cooling set-point temperature are the most influential variables for the attainment of NZEBs in a hot climate. Regarding the building envelope, the outcomes suggest the low insulation of dispersing structures and local solar shading of windows as recommended measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:29:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4b755e924734b7da495a11c7e2553c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:29:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4b755e924734b7da495a11c7e2553c12024-03-27T13:28:55ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-02-0114356610.3390/buildings14030566Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective OptimizationCristina Carpino0Miguel Chen Austin1Dafni Mora2Natale Arcuri3Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 46C, 87036 Rende, ItalyFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0819-07289, PanamaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0819-07289, PanamaDepartment of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 46C, 87036 Rende, ItalyTo achieve sustainable cities and communities, it is necessary to decarbonize existing buildings. Actions need to be taken to reduce the buildings’ energy demand and ensure that the low remaining demand is met by energy produced from renewable sources. This leads to Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs), whose impact on energy consumption is zero or positive, meaning that they are able to produce more energy than they require. The “zero” objective may be difficult to reach in hot and humid climates, where the cooling demand is prevalent. In this case, a combination of active and passive measures, together with appropriate interaction with users, is a viable way to obtain NZEBs. The present study aims to explore technological solutions for renovating existing buildings to NZEBs in a tropical climate. The analysis is developed through a parametric analysis, a sensitivity analysis, and an optimization directed at minimizing the site’s net energy and hours of discomfort. Evaluations are conducted for a case study consisting of a single-family house located in Panama City. The results showed that photovoltaic size, cooling operation schedule, and cooling set-point temperature are the most influential variables for the attainment of NZEBs in a hot climate. Regarding the building envelope, the outcomes suggest the low insulation of dispersing structures and local solar shading of windows as recommended measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/566building renovationnet zero energy buildingsoptimizationparametric analysisrenewable energysensitivity analysis |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Carpino Miguel Chen Austin Dafni Mora Natale Arcuri Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization Buildings building renovation net zero energy buildings optimization parametric analysis renewable energy sensitivity analysis |
| title | Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization |
| title_full | Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization |
| title_fullStr | Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization |
| title_short | Retrofit Measures for Achieving NZE Single-Family Houses in a Tropical Climate via Multi-Objective Optimization |
| title_sort | retrofit measures for achieving nze single family houses in a tropical climate via multi objective optimization |
| topic | building renovation net zero energy buildings optimization parametric analysis renewable energy sensitivity analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/566 |
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