Building Performance Optimization of Net Zero-Energy Buildings - Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings - page 245

Fig. 5.1 Optimization as a holistic approach for multiobjective approach
for Net ZEB design
This chapter discusses major obstacles to BPO in the building design and
construction industry including lack of appropriate tools, lack of resources
(time, expertise), and the requirement that the problem be very well defined
(e.g., constraints, objective function, finite list of design options). The
objective of this chapter is to document the current state-of-the-art and
future research and development needs for Net ZEB optimization tools
in practice and its use for design and operation of buildings for energy,
comfort, and cost optimization. The content is intended to aid the reader
in better understanding areas of active research in building optimization as
well as tools and methods commonly used by researchers and designers.
5.1.1 What is BPO?
Automated building performance optimization is a process that aims to
select the optimal solutions from a set of available alternatives for a given
design or control problem, according to a set of performance criteria and
constraints. Such criteria can be expressed as mathematical functions,
called objective functions. Automated optimization is a combination of
different types of optimization algorithms, setting each algorithm to
optimize one or more design functions. The optimization objectives for
Net ZEBs are to identify impacts on cost, energy, environmental impact
(embodied energy, materials life cycle), comfort, and indoor air quality.