Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings
This paper investigates the optimization of insulation thickness with respect to the integration of renewable energy systems in residential buildings in order to improve energy efficiency, maximize the contribution of renewables and reduce life cycle costs. Using the DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus sof...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5609 |
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| author | Agis M. Papadopoulos Konstantinos Polychronakis Elli Kyriaki Effrosyni Giama |
| author_facet | Agis M. Papadopoulos Konstantinos Polychronakis Elli Kyriaki Effrosyni Giama |
| author_sort | Agis M. Papadopoulos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper investigates the optimization of insulation thickness with respect to the integration of renewable energy systems in residential buildings in order to improve energy efficiency, maximize the contribution of renewables and reduce life cycle costs. Using the DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus software, this study models a representative two-story residential building located in Athens, Greece. The building envelope features extruded polystyrene thermal insulation and windows with unplasticized polyvinyl chloride frames and low-e glazing. Six scenarios with hybrid renewable energy systems are analyzed, including air- and ground-source heat pumps, solar thermal systems and a biomass fired boiler, so as to assess energy consumption, economic feasibility and internal air temperature conditions. A Pareto-fronts-based optimization algorithm is applied to determine the optimal combination of insulation thicknesses for the walls, the roof and the floor, focusing on minimizing the life cycle cost and maximizing the percentage of renewable energy utilized. The results demonstrate that scenarios involving biomass boilers and solar thermal systems, both for heating and cooling, when combined with reasonable thermal protection, can effectively meet the recent European Union’s directive’s goal, with renewable energy systems contributing more than 50% of the total energy requirements, whilst maintaining acceptable internal air temperature conditions and having a life cycle cost lower than contemporary conventional buildings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cdd18ba6f53e4581a94179b7d119a9c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-cdd18ba6f53e4581a94179b7d119a9c52024-11-26T18:02:02ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011722560910.3390/en17225609Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential BuildingsAgis M. Papadopoulos0Konstantinos Polychronakis1Elli Kyriaki2Effrosyni Giama3Process Equipment Design Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15772 Athens, GreeceProcess Equipment Design Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceProcess Equipment Design Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThis paper investigates the optimization of insulation thickness with respect to the integration of renewable energy systems in residential buildings in order to improve energy efficiency, maximize the contribution of renewables and reduce life cycle costs. Using the DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus software, this study models a representative two-story residential building located in Athens, Greece. The building envelope features extruded polystyrene thermal insulation and windows with unplasticized polyvinyl chloride frames and low-e glazing. Six scenarios with hybrid renewable energy systems are analyzed, including air- and ground-source heat pumps, solar thermal systems and a biomass fired boiler, so as to assess energy consumption, economic feasibility and internal air temperature conditions. A Pareto-fronts-based optimization algorithm is applied to determine the optimal combination of insulation thicknesses for the walls, the roof and the floor, focusing on minimizing the life cycle cost and maximizing the percentage of renewable energy utilized. The results demonstrate that scenarios involving biomass boilers and solar thermal systems, both for heating and cooling, when combined with reasonable thermal protection, can effectively meet the recent European Union’s directive’s goal, with renewable energy systems contributing more than 50% of the total energy requirements, whilst maintaining acceptable internal air temperature conditions and having a life cycle cost lower than contemporary conventional buildings.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5609thermal insulationrenewable energyenergy efficiencyoptimization |
| spellingShingle | Agis M. Papadopoulos Konstantinos Polychronakis Elli Kyriaki Effrosyni Giama Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings Energies thermal insulation renewable energy energy efficiency optimization |
| title | Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings |
| title_full | Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings |
| title_fullStr | Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings |
| title_short | Multi-Objective Optimization of Insulation Thickness with Respect to On-Site RES Generation in Residential Buildings |
| title_sort | multi objective optimization of insulation thickness with respect to on site res generation in residential buildings |
| topic | thermal insulation renewable energy energy efficiency optimization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5609 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT agismpapadopoulos multiobjectiveoptimizationofinsulationthicknesswithrespecttoonsiteresgenerationinresidentialbuildings AT konstantinospolychronakis multiobjectiveoptimizationofinsulationthicknesswithrespecttoonsiteresgenerationinresidentialbuildings AT ellikyriaki multiobjectiveoptimizationofinsulationthicknesswithrespecttoonsiteresgenerationinresidentialbuildings AT effrosynigiama multiobjectiveoptimizationofinsulationthicknesswithrespecttoonsiteresgenerationinresidentialbuildings |