Multi-objective optimization of thermal modelled cubicles considering the total cost and life cycle environmental impact

Abstract

Energy efficiency strategies, such as building insulation, improve the building performance without compromising comfort. This study presents a methodology for determining the optimal insulation thickness for external building surfaces. Our approach is based on a multi-objective optimization model that minimizes simultaneously the cost and environmental impact associated with both the energy consumption over the operational phase and the generation of the construction materials (including the waste produced during the disposal phase). The thermal loads of the modelled cubicles were calculated using EnergyPlus, a widely used simulation program for buildings. The environmental impact was quantified following the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. This methodology was applied to a case study of a house-like cubicle located in Lleida (northeast Spain). Taking as a basis a standard cubicle without insulation, our approach identifies solutions that reduce around 40% both, the 2 cost and environmental impact. Optimal solutions show also important economic and environmental improvements compared to cubicles constructed with the Spanish legislation requirements. Our method is intended to assist decision-makers in the design of buildings.

Uncertainty propagation and sensitivity analysis of thermo-physical properties of phase change materials (PCM) in the energy demand calculations of a test cell with passive latent thermal storage

“…The results of this case study, thus, can be compared to eor can complement-those from previous works where similar examples had been chosen for different analysis (e.g. life cycle analysis [30] or optimization of insulation thickness [31]). Furthermore, one of the objectives for future work is the comparison of the simulation model with experimental measurements taking into account uncertainty propagation in both results.…”

“…They represent the operation conditions of the experimental cubicles [24] and have already been used in Carreras et al [31]:…”

Decision-making based on network visualization applied to building life cycle optimization

“…Many authors are interested in optimizing a building's envelope and energy systems considering more than one performance criteria, i.e. multiobjective optimization (MOO) (E. Antipova et al, 2014;J. Carreras et al, 2014), like Wu et al (2017) that apply a mixed integer linear program (MILP) optimization to minimize both the greenhouses gas (GHG) emissions and the life cycle cost of buildings' energy systems and envelope on a community level.…”

Overview of Multi-Objective Optimization Approaches in Construction Project Management

“…• Carreras et al [25] introduced an approach for selecting the thickness of insulation material for building shells. The objective of the study was to select the best option for the insulation that optimizes the costs (Eq.…”