The Optimization Methods for Zero Energy Buildings: A Review

Document Type : Scientific Paper

Authors

Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Nowadays, global energy scenario is faced with the loss of fossil fuel resources, strongly, and in other hand climate changes caused by fossil fuel consumption has become a concerning problem. This reality needs a new attitude into the using of the renewable energies as much as possible. Since the buildings consume thirty-six percent of the total global energy consumption, zero energy building approach is a vital matter in modern world. The optimization of the zero energy building with aiming at various objectives, can improve the building performance. In this paper, a review was carried out on various optimization methods for zero energy buildings, and these methods were presented in three groups: meta-heuristic algorithm, mathematical methods, and simulation-based methods. The meta-heuristic algorithms because of their algorithmic structure to achieve the certain objectives, were studied in single-objective and multi-objective processes. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm as one of the best methods was selected. The procedures of the mathematical methods were explained, in detail. Finally in the simulation-based optimization chapter, the optimization methods were studied in two sections of the minimizing the cost, and minimizing the thermal and cooling loads.

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