Building envelope optimization using energy analysis

Energy analysis is an integral component of sustainable building practices. Energy analysis coupled with optimization techniques may offer solutions for greater energy efficiency over the life- time of the building. However, all such computations employ the energy used for operations to benchmark and develop optimal solutions. This paper used emergy analysis to develop a method to identify the optimal solution for a building envelope system so that it will perform to its maximum potential given the mix of energy sources used for heating and cooling. The proposed method aids in the selection of building envelope materials and designs based on the total environmental impact for a particular building project.