While computer simulation has long been used to predict building energy use, this research highlights an evolution toward integrated optimization.
By critically reviewing existing studies, the authors identify a growing trend of using machine learning and parametric modeling to automate the search for sustainable design solutions. These tools allow for a holistic “Life Cycle” approach, ensuring that carbon emissions are minimized from material production through to a building’s end-of-life.
The study explicitly states that the future of green building design lies in “socio-technical” solutions. This means that environmental sustainability must be balanced with human wellbeing and occupant behavior.
For the engineering and architectural communities, the findings suggest that the next generation of building optimization will not just be about better materials, but about creating an automated, multidisciplinary design process that prioritizes both the planet and the people inhabiting it.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120012
Reference
Gan, V. J. L., Lo, I. M. C., Ma, J., Tse, K. T., Cheng, J. C. P., & Chan, C. M. (2020). Simulation optimisation towards energy efficient green buildings: Current status and future trends. Journal of Cleaner Production, 254, 120012