Multi-Objective Optimization of Buildings’ Exterior Wall Insulation Based on Comprehensive Analysis Models and Assessment Indexes

Employing thermal insulation in buildings’ exterior walls is an effective technical measure to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions of buildings. A multi-objective optimization method is presented for exterior wall insulation in buildings based on the equivalent full-load hours-based energy consumption (EFLHEC) prediction method, comprehensive analysis(economic, energy, and carbon emission) models, and assessment indexes. The presented optimization design method consists of an EFLHEC-based energy consumption prediction module, a comprehensive analysis model-based quantitative evaluation module, and a balanced index-based optimal design scheme determination module. Comprehensive analysis models are developed to evaluate economic performance, energy, and carbon emissions of external wall insulation. The balanced index method is extended to cope with economic, energy, and carbon emission factors of buildings’ external wall insulation. The research results showed that the EFLHEC provided an accurate and simple energy consumption prediction method for buildings’ exterior walls. The optimal design scheme was determined by comparing the values of balanced indexes for different design schemes of external wall insulation. Cooling and heating source type had important influences on the optimal insulation layer thicknesses, economic performance, and carbon emissions of external wall insulation in buildings. The largest variations in the balanced index for different types of insulation and different types of cooling and heating sources were 0.14 and 0.41, respectively. The cooling and heating source type should be considered in optimizing the design of external wall insulation in buildings. The best solution was obtained by EPS and natural gas for an office building in Zhengzhou city in China. The presented multi-objective optimization method is very helpful in solving the complex engineering problem of optimizing external wall insulation.

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