A Novel Optimization Method for Conventional Primary and Secondary School Classrooms in Southern China Considering Energy Demand, Thermal Comfort and Daylighting

Yizhe Xu,Hao Qian,Yanlong Jiang,Gang Wang,Chengchu Yan,Liang Sun

doi:10.3390/su132313119

Abstract

The classroom environment is of great significance for the health of primary and secondary school students, but a comfortable indoor environment often requires higher energy consumption. This paper presents a multi-objective optimization method based on an artificial neural network (ANN) model, which can help designers efficiently optimize the design of primary and secondary school classrooms in southern China. In this optimization method, first, the optimization objectives and variables are determined according to building characteristics, and the physical model is established through simulation software (EnergyPlus) to generate the sample space. Second, sensitivity analysis is carried out for each optimization variable, and the physical model is modified according to the results to regenerate the sample space. Third, the ANN model is trained by using the regenerated sample space, and the Pareto optimal solution is generated through the use of the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). Finally, the effectiveness of the multi-objective optimization method is proven through a typical case of primary and secondary school classrooms in Nanjing, China. The results show that, compared with the benchmark scheme, TES decreased by 810.8 kWh at most, PT increased by 47.8% at most and DI increased by 4.2% at most.

Highlights

IntroductionIn schools, a healthy and comfortable indoor environment plays an important role in promoting students’ learning efficiency and physical and mental health [2]
The parameter setting and calculation results are shown in Overall, compared with the benchmark scheme, in the optimized schemes, total annual energy consumption (TES) decreased by 810.8 kWh at most, PT increased by 47.8% at most and DI increased by 4.2% at most
This paper presents a multi-objective optimization method for classroom design optimization in primary and secondary schools in southern China, which can find the optimal or near-optimal classroom design scheme considering energy, thermal comfort and daylighting under the given conditions

Summary

Introduction

In schools, a healthy and comfortable indoor environment plays an important role in promoting students’ learning efficiency and physical and mental health [2]. The creation of a good indoor environment requires considerable energy [3]. Primary and secondary school students should stay in the classroom for at least eight hours every day. Their physical and mental health is the focus of school and family attention. Some studies have shown that a good daylighting environment helps to reduce students’ myopia rate [5], while a comfortable thermal environment helps students concentrate and makes them energetic [6,7]. Classroom thermal comfort and Sustainability 2021, 13, 13119.

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion