Parametric design to minimize the embodied GHG emissions in a ZEB

Abstract

This work aims to apply parametric design in order to minimize the embodied greenhouse gas emissions and operational energy in a zero emission building in Oslo, Norway. An original generative workflow based on parametric design was developed in the Grasshopper environment to conduct energy analyses such as solar radiation and daylighting, and environmental impact analysis, in order to evaluate the embodied and operational greenhouse gas emissions of the building. The workflow was generated in order to parametrically control several building features while varying the building shape, the dimensions of construction components and the quantity of materials. The process leads to the generation of shapes with the least environmental impact. The workflow allows the modification of the initial shape of the Base Case by running iterative simulations through the Galapagos and Octopus evolutionary solvers. For each stage of the shape's optimization, through passive and active strategies, the embodied emissions and energy balances were estimated in order to evaluate how the building design would vary in terms of energy and environmental impact and to identify the implications for the design. This paper shows how design options with low levels of embodied emissions can be generated and optimized automatically, and also demonstrates how a parametric design approach provides the designer with suggestions of low-impact solutions, which can then be integrated and considered early in, and throughout, the design process in a holistic manner.

Parametric Design and Kansei Engineering in Goblet Styling Design

“…Compared with the exiting method, the one proposed in this research is able to provide multiple product appearances by adjusting only one parameter; however, it cannot be used for products that have complex curves. In the traditional shape evaluation method [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45], adjective degrees are determined by respondents or experts after observing product entities or pictures. A product entity or picture is required to rate adjective degrees.…”

“…Łukaszewicz et al [37] presented the process of designing a technological line for transporting and packaging vegetables by using a parametric 3D CAD system. Lobaccaro et al [38] presented parametric design to minimize embodied greenhouse gas emissions and operational energy in a zero emission building in Oslo, Norway. In addition, a generative design method was designed based on parameters.…”

Parametric Design to Maximize Solar Irradiation and Minimize the Embodied GHG Emissions for a ZEB in Nordic and Mediterranean Climate Zones

“…Recently, the use of parametric tools has also been adopted for the calculation of a number of other performance aspects in addition to solar radiation, such as the emissions from operational energy use and embodied emissions of materials [31][32][33]. Some studies led to the development of new methodologies that allow multi-objective optimization for energy and/or environmental assessments [34,35]. Nevertheless, to develop a parametric approach to conduct fast and simplified LCA analyses during the early stage of the design process is critical for ZEB designs.…”

“…It allows the implementation of different algorithms for parametric design by means of a visual programming interface. In this study, an algorithm implemented in a previous study [35] was used to parametrically control the building's volume of a ZEB Base Case (presented in Section 2.2). The algorithm allows conducting both solar irradiation analysis and environmental impact calculation to optimize the building's shape according to two objective functions: (i) maximization of the solar irradiation (Irr gl ) harvesting on the building envelope and (ii) minimization of the embodied emissions (E e ) due to the employed building's materials.…”

“…Building elements of the ZEB Base Case included in the LCA calculation[35]. Thermal transmittance value (U-value) of the different building envelope components of the ZEB Base Case.…”