Role of passive design and alternative energy in building energy optimization

Energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by employing passive design strategies and with the use of alternative energy resources mainly solar photovoltaic and solar thermal. These measures not only help in reducing the energy bills but also help in mitigating climate change efforts. An optimal solution was obtained by the employment of these measures along with the use of building optimization techniques. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications are the conventional means for provision of thermal comfort and are also the highest consumers in building energy. The study establishes that certain passive measures in the design features of the building envelope, either during planning and construction or in retrofitting, can help reduce the overall energy consumption of the building without compromising the occupants’ comfort level. This study demonstrated that solar energies as well as the building parameters such as roof/wall thickness, window/wall ratio and optimum sizing of windows can reduce the energy consumption by as much as 33%. The results reflect that the selection of appropriate building parameters is very important in achieving building energy efficiency. MATLAB has been employed along with TOPSIS for optimization to approach a near zero energy building.