Beyond passive House: use of evolutionary algorithms in architectural design

As buildings are accountable for one-fifth of the total greenhouse gas emissions, improving their energy efficiency is foreseen as a pivotal opportunity towards climate neutrality, answering the UN call for climate action. Thus, this work intends to study to what extent the optimisation of the geometrical characteristics of building envelope can contribute to reducing their energy consumption under different climatic scenarios. The case studies have focused on three single-family houses located in different climatic zones in southern Brazil. Therefore, an evolutionary algorithm was employed in a two-step optimisation approach. First the window area and secondly the shading solutions dimensions, considering the Passive House (PH) concept requirements. The optimisation of the window areas and shading solutions dimensions together with the PH concept resulted in a reduction of energy demand between 76 and 91% and an increase in thermal comfort between 89 and 93%. Regarding window dimensions, all scenarios experienced a significant reduction of glazed areas, from 38.9 to 60.5%. As conclusion, an adequate design of shading elements and windows significantly contribute to improve indoor thermal comfort and to reduce the buildings’ energy demand, an utmost relevant factor to be considered in the early stages of project design pursuing high energy performance buildings. •Whole building dynamic simulation of 3 buildings at different climatic zones.•Development of decision aid tool for designers to buildings energy efficiency.•Optimisation of windows and shadings dimensions for improved energy performance.•Adequate design of shadings and windows are key to improve indoor thermal comfort.•PH principles with optimised windows and shadings result in high-end performance.