A Genetic Algorithm-Based Approach Design for Energy-Efficient Building in Thailand

Building-related systems improvement bring the energy saving to cities. Shape, type of building, and buildings time of use affect the electricity consumption. Only minimization of the energy consumption of the building causes exceeding in insulations or unreasonable option of lighting and air-conditioning systems which will increase initial cost of material and equipment to reach an unacceptable level for investment. Life-cycle cost evaluation is one of the best solutions to solve such problem. In order to choose suitable material and equipment, the application of genetic algorithm optimization was used in this study. Initial cost and energy cost were considered as objective functions to minimize the life-cycle cost of buildings. Office/school, hotel/hospital, and hypermarket/superstore building categories were evaluated as in Thailands building energy code requirement. Different type of building results different energy consumption therefore the building systems are needed to improve in different way. The way of improving the life-cycle cost concerns, for example, period of time using during the day, shape and configuration, window-to-wall ratio, and required illuminance.