Multi-objective optimization of building envelope of rural housing in the severely cold region of China based on energy consumption, thermal comfort and cost-effectiveness

The performance of rural residential buildings has a great energy-saving potential due to the great spontaneity and ignorance of the rural residential construction. To solve this problem, this paper provides a multi-objective optimization model based on Chebyshev inequality. The model takes energy consumption, indoor thermal comfort, project cost as optimization objectives and considers operating conditions in winter and summer. This study taking a rural residential house as an example and analysed the influence of its envelope parameters on building performance using EnergyPlus. The parameters of the building envelope were optimized, which verified the superiority of the method. Optimization results showed that the heating energy consumption was reduced by 29%, and the air conditioning energy consumption was reduced by 6%. This study analysed the relationship between the building energy consumption, indoor thermal comfort and the cost by multi-objective optimization method, to provide a new research idea for rural residential research. Optimal design solutions were generated under various weighting coefficients. The model aimed to meet the climatic and economic conditions of northern China and similar regions. Therefore, based on these optimization results, decision-makers can choose optimal design and construction solutions according to their own will.