4 Meta-model based method for thermal comfort and energy use building optimisation at a local resolution

This paper details a simulation approach to evaluating optimal building thermal comfort and energy use, focussed on the performance at a local level of single spaces. Through the use of dynamically coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and dynamic thermal modelling (DTM) spatial variation of thermal comfort in a room is evaluated. Meta-modelling is used to reduce the total number of simulations required and the two objective functions, thermal comfort and reducing energy use are assessed in terms of a Pareto front. This provides a method of examining the optimum trade-off between the two objectives from which an appropriate solution may be selected. It is demonstrated that by exploiting the implicit division of the process resulting from meta- modelling, substantial time-saving economies are realised. From a single initial sample of simulations, optimisations can be performed for many different permutations of location and time period, and for any subset of the design variables. Furthermore results are presented from a case study of a single bed hospital room.