Work

A simple simultaneous envelope/system optimization for energy efficiency improvement in near-zero energy buildings

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting their significant environmental impact. In response, global initiatives and policies are promoting energy efficiency through innovative technologies, stricter building codes, and renewable energy integration to achieve sustainability goals. In this study, an innovative framework is proposed to evaluate different envelope strategies and their integration with energy systems in a distributed generation mix in near-zero energy buildings in the long term. It is based on a baseline scenario in which meteorological variables, physical and thermal properties of the building materials and their energy consumption are collected during a one-year measurement campaign. Based on this base scenario, different envelope strategies are proposed and simulated using EnergyPlus. Performance profiles of each envelope strategy, together with a hybrid renewable generation system including storage and grid support, serve as inputs to a MIDCP-based optimization algorithm developed in RStudio. In addition to the performance profiles, techno-economic parameters of each envelope and system are integrated into the objective function, in accordance with CEN EN 15459, with a long-term perspective. A sensitivity study is also performed that analyzes variations in economic parameters and considers a climate change scenario, connecting EnergyPlus with RStudio through the eplusR package. A case study evaluates a building on the Ecuadorian coast and four envelope strategies: PCM, aerogel, green wall, and awning shading. The awning-based envelope demonstrated the best performance, while PCM, aerogel, and green wall require cost reductions of 72%, 62.4%, and 71.3% to ensure long-term sustainability.

Source: Energy Conversion and Management X

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100951

Authors: Martín Muñoz-Salcedo, José L. Saquinaula-Brito, Jhonny Ortíz-Mata, Fernando Peci-López

Institutions: Universidad Estatal de Milagro, Universidad Ecotec, University of Córdoba

Language: English

Topic: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,170