Optimization of Building Envelope Design for Daylighting and Thermal Performance

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Futrell, B. (2015). Optimization of Building Envelope Design for Daylighting and Thermal Performance. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Buildings account for 40% of US energy usage. A building’s energy usage is largely determined by decisions made during its design. Such decisions relate to the form and orientation of the building, the materials used, and location of windows. A bi-objective building design optimization method was developed to minimize heating and cooling energy usage and maximize natural lighting (daylighting). Four optimization algorithms were integrated and evaluated based on efficiency and consistency of results. Thermal performance was evaluated by enclosure elements’ (windows, floors, walls, and roofs) impact on heating and cooling energy. Lighting performance was evaluated by the frequency and magnitude at which natural light levels deviated from a desired range. To ensure the accuracy of results, a method of thermal model calibration was developed based on room temperature responses to various weather conditions. The model used for simulation-based optimization was first calibrated to measured values, of the building it represented, such that predicted and measured hourly room temperatures (°F) deviated by an RMSE of 0.82 on hot and cold days. Optimization results show that thermal and lighting performance can be significantly improved from an initial design and the associated Pareto front aids evaluation of trade-offs between the two.

Details
Author

Futrell, Benjamin

Title

Optimization of Building Envelope Design for Daylighting and Thermal Performance

Physical Description

1 online resource (136 pages) : PDF

Date

2015

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Buildings account for 40% of US energy usage. A building’s energy usage is largely determined by decisions made during its design. Such decisions relate to the form and orientation of the building, the materials used, and location of windows. A bi-objective building design optimization method was developed to minimize heating and cooling energy usage and maximize natural lighting (daylighting). Four optimization algorithms were integrated and evaluated based on efficiency and consistency of results. Thermal performance was evaluated by enclosure elements’ (windows, floors, walls, and roofs) impact on heating and cooling energy. Lighting performance was evaluated by the frequency and magnitude at which natural light levels deviated from a desired range. To ensure the accuracy of results, a method of thermal model calibration was developed based on room temperature responses to various weather conditions. The model used for simulation-based optimization was first calibrated to measured values, of the building it represented, such that predicted and measured hourly room temperatures (°F) deviated by an RMSE of 0.82 on hot and cold days. Optimization results show that thermal and lighting performance can be significantly improved from an initial design and the associated Pareto front aids evaluation of trade-offs between the two.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Engineering
System theory
Building

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Building Energy Modeling
Daylighting
Optimization

Subject Area

Infrastructure & Environmental Systems

Advisor(s)

Ozelkan, Ertunga
Brentrup, Dale

Committee Members

Cox, Robert
Weggel, David
Delmelle, Eric

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Futrell_uncc_0694D_10974

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1749