Verification of a Low Energy Solar Home Model to be Used With a GA Optimisation Tool

Rémi Charron, CanmetENERGY
Dr. Andreas Athienitis, Concordia University

CETC Number 2007-145 / 2007-08-13

Abstract

The application of computerised optimisation techniques for the design of low and net-zero energy buildings will provide building designers with a powerful design tool. This paper presents the results of the verification of a low energy solar home model that will be implemented as the main energy simulation engine for a GA Optimisation Tool that is under development. Results from the low energy solar home model are compared with monitored data of an energy efficient house based in Saskatoon. The results from the model were found to correlate well with the monitored data after adjusting the effective thermal capacitance of the zone and the control strategy used for the window coverings. The next step will be to demonstrate that the GA Optimisation Tool can systematically find optimal low and net-zero energy solar home design configurations.

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