Optimal and cost-effective energy efficiency design and operation options are evaluated for office buildings in Tunisia. In the analysis, several design and operation features are considered including orientation, window location and size, high performance glazing types, wall and roof insulation levels, energy efficient lighting systems, daylighting controls, temperature settings, and energy efficient heating and cooling systems. First, the results of the optimization results from a sequential search technique are compared against those obtained by a more time consuming brute-force optimization approach. Then, the optimal design features for a prototypical office building are determined for selected locations in Tunisia. The optimization results indicate that utilizing daylighting controls, energy efficient lighting fixtures, and low-e double glazing, and roof insulation are required energy efficiency measures to design high energy performance office buildings throughout climatic zones in Tunisia. In particular, it is found that implementing these measures can cost-effectively reduce the annual energy use by 50% compared to the current design practices of office buildings in Tunisia.
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November 2013
Research-Article
Design Optimization of Energy Efficient Office Buildings in Tunisia
Pyeongchan Ihm,
Pyeongchan Ihm
Associate Professor
Department of Architectural Engineering,
Busan, South Korea
Department of Architectural Engineering,
Dong-A University
,Busan, South Korea
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Moncef Krarti
Moncef Krarti
Civil, Environmental,
and Architectural Engineering Department,
Boulder, CO 80309-0428
and Architectural Engineering Department,
University of Colorado
,Boulder, CO 80309-0428
Search for other works by this author on:
Pyeongchan Ihm
Associate Professor
Department of Architectural Engineering,
Busan, South Korea
Department of Architectural Engineering,
Dong-A University
,Busan, South Korea
Moncef Krarti
Civil, Environmental,
and Architectural Engineering Department,
Boulder, CO 80309-0428
and Architectural Engineering Department,
University of Colorado
,Boulder, CO 80309-0428
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received January 28, 2013; final manuscript received August 1, 2013; published online October 17, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Jorge E. Gonzalez.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2013, 135(4): 040908 (10 pages)
Published Online: October 17, 2013
Article history
Received:
January 28, 2013
Revision Received:
August 1, 2013
Citation
Ihm, P., and Krarti, M. (October 17, 2013). "Design Optimization of Energy Efficient Office Buildings in Tunisia." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2013; 135(4): 040908. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025588
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