Multicriteria optimisation of shape of energy-saving buildings

The object is to determine the optimum dimensions of the shape of a building of volume V and height h, based on the following criteria: (1) minimum building costs, including the cost of the materials and construction; (2) minimum yearly heating costs. The solution to the problem is presented in two ways. In the first, it is assumed that the shape of the plan of the building is defined by two arbitrary curves bounding the south and north faces and that the windows on the southern side are defined by a continuous function as a percentage of the total wall area. In the second, it is assumed that the building is of prismatic shape on polygonal plan, and using non-linear programming methods the proportions of wall lengths, wall angles and building height are determined. This problem was solved numerically by means of the CAMOS computer program. It is not the object of the paper to obtain a practical design. The results constitute information for designers on the optimum proportions of wall lengths, their angles and glazing parameters, taking into account the above-mentioned criteria. The degree to which these results can be applied in practice depends on many other requirements present in the design of buildings. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.