When artificial intelligence meets building energy efficiency, a review focusing on zero energy building

Building energy efficiency, as a traditional field which has been existing for decades performs a prosperous needs with diversity of corresponding methods. In the flow of artificial intelligence (AI) background, where does the building energy efficiency advance and how does it emphasize? This question seems to become more significant with the blueprints of zero energy building implementation issued by many countries. The major objective of this research is to review, analyze and identify the performance of AI based applications in buildings, especially for building energy efficiency and zero energy building. Based on the present research trends, the possible changes AI based approach brings to related laws, regulations and standards are firstly analyzed. The main aspects of the AI based approach infrastructure in buildings is thoroughly reviewed and compared. IoT based sensor applications for thermal comfort, platforms and algorithms for building multi energies control, and forecasting methods for building load, subsystem performance and structure safety are summarized. To provide more optimal references for zero energy building solutions, the AI based approach in zero energy building is then predicted in detail, with particular analysis of occupant presence and behaviors. Finally, the future directions of the research on AI based applications for zero energy building implementation are summarized.