A STUDY OF MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF OPERATIONAL ENERGY AND EMBODIED ENERGY

Abstract

The 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (UN Environment, International Energy Agency, 2019) highlighted the alarming statistic that buildings account for 36% of global energy consumption and 39% of global emissions. As the global concern for climate change and global warming intensifies, it is crucial to address these environmental impacts. Previous research in the building and construction field has predominantly focused on reducing operational energy consumption, neglecting the potential increase in embodied energy associated with such measures. Recent studies have revealed that a decrease in operational energy might inadvertently lead to an increase in embodied energy employed by buildings (Zero energy potential of a high-rise office building in a Mediterranean climate: Using multi-objective optimization to understand the impact of design decisions towards zero-energy high-rise buildings, 2020). Consequently, achieving an overall reduction in carbon emissions becomes challenging, hindering the attainment of the intended sustainability goals. To accurately assess a building’s energy consumption, it is necessary to consider both operational energy and embodied energy throughout its entire life span, rather than span focusing on one aspect. In this light, the present study aims to evaluate the life cycle energy of buildings by incorporating both operational and embodied energy factors. Through the implementation of multi-objective optimization techniques, a trade off analysis between these two would be conducted. By examining the interplay between operational energy and embodied energy, this research aims to provide valuable insights into achieving optimal energy performance in building design, thereby contributing to the global efforts in mitigating climate change and reducing carbon emissions.