Multivariate optimization of design trade-offs for solar low energy buildings

The large number of different design options available for energy conscious building design calls for careful quantitative assessments to find the opt imum technology mix for each project. Hen, a numerical multivariate optimiz ation procedure is introduced, to draft the optimum building design variabl es at an early design stage. The approach is based on integrating a non-lin ear optimization scheme with building modeling, whereby the basic physical, technical and economic interactions between the building design options an d energy flows are accounted for. The optimization tool developed then find s the economic optimum, given the project-specific boundary conditions and the energy consumption target. The applicability of the approach is demonst rated through a set of case studies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. AU righ ts reserved.