Relationship Analysis and Optimisation of Space Layout to Improve the Energy Performance of Office Buildings

Tiantian Du,Francesco De Luca,Michela Turrin,Sabine Jansen,Andy Van Den Dobbelsteen

doi:10.3390/en15041268

Abstract

Architectural space layout has proven to be influential on building energy performance. However, the relationship between different space layouts and their consequent energy demands has not yet been systematically studied. This study thoroughly investigates such a relationship. In order to do so, a computational method was developed, which includes a method to generate space layouts featuring energy-related variables and an assessment method for energy demand. Additionally, a design of experiments was performed, and its results were used to analyse the relationship between space layouts and energy demands. In order to identify their relationship, four types of design indicators of space layout were proposed, both for the overall layout and for each function. Finally, several optimisations were performed to minimise heating, cooling and lighting demands. The optimisation results showed that the maximum reduction between different layouts was up to 54% for lighting demand, 51% for heating demand and 38% for cooling demand. The relationship analysis shows that when comparing the four types of design indicators, the façade area-to-floor area ratio showed a stronger correlation with energy demands than the façade area ratio, floor area ratio and height-to-depth ratio. Overall, this study shows that designing a space layout helps to reduce energy demands for heating, cooling and lighting, and also provides a reference for other researchers and designers to optimise space layout with improved energy performance.

Highlights

Space layout design is one of the most important tasks in architectural design, taking place around ‘scheme design’ and ‘design development’ in the early design phase [1]
In order to solve this research gap, this paper presents a study for identifying the relationship between space layout and energy performance and for illustrating how to optimise space layout design with improved energy performance, as well as investigating how much energy demand can be reduced from the optimisation
As for the structure of design of experiments (DOE), the design variables were used as inputs; the energy demands and the design indicators shown in Section 3 were used as outputs

Summary

Introduction

Space layout design is one of the most important tasks in architectural design, taking place around ‘scheme design’ and ‘design development’ in the early design phase [1]. It refers to the allocation of different functions within the building plan, and it is based on the placement of interior partitions as well as exterior walls. As one important design task of building design, it is meaningful to fully identify the potential of space layout to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption in office buildings

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion