Multi-objective optimization of energy demand and net zero energy building design based on climatic conditions (Case study: Tehran)

In recent years, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector has attracted a lot of attention. As in other parts of the world, the construction sector in Iran also has a large share of energy consumption. As a result, low consumption and even zero energy buildings, as an alternative solution in solving this problem, have attracted the attention of scientists, researchers and policy makers. One of the main challenges in designing a zero energy building is to find the best combination of passive solutions to reduce consumption and optimize energy performance in the building in such a way that the energy performance of the building and the thermal comfort of the residents are not negatively affected. This article presents a method for multi-objective and multi-variable optimization based on building simulation, which is carried out in three main stages: building energy consumption simulation, two-objective optimization process and multi-criteria decision making for zero energy building design using renewable energy sources. Reproducible. The studied design parameters are: direction of the building, angle and depth and length of the protrusion of the shades, insulation thickness of external walls, temperature adjustment points for cooling and heating, ratio of window to wall area, heat transfer coefficient of windows and thickness of roof insulation. In addition, the considered renewable energy sources are: photovoltaic panels and wind turbines. In order to achieve a net zero energy building, considering maintaining the thermal comfort of the residents, a multi-objective genetic algorithm with non-dominated sorting has been used. Finally, in order to determine the most optimal answer in the Pareto diagram, the elimination and selection method compatible with reality has been used. The results show that climatic conditions and the appropriate selection of architectural parameters are very important and vital in reducing building energy consumption. Based on the results, the use of energy optimization solutions in Tehran leads to a 25.3% reduction in energy consumption. In addition, there is a significant potential for the use of photovoltaic systems in Tehran to provide energy for homes.