Optimizing the transition between design and operation of ZEBs: Lessons learnt from the Solar Decathlon China 2018 SCUTxPoliTo prototype

In the context of the worldwide efforts to reduce energy consumptions and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to the building sector, reaching the high performance of a zero energy building (ZEB) has been demonstrated to be feasible, especially when the design phase is supported by integrated simulation-based optimization methods. It is necessary to pay special attention to the transition from building design to building operation and it is hard to find examples of real ZEB buildings where the that are optimized considering design and operation at the same time. In this context, the Solar Decathlon competition is a unique experimental field to advance in research about design, simulation, and optimization of ZEBs. This study aims at presenting the energy-related scientific aspects behind and beyond the winner building prototype of the Solar Decathlon China 2018 competition. An optimization-based calibration supported by sensitivity analysis is carried out to calibrate the simulation model of the ZEB prototype, based on data collected throughout the design and construction phase. Then, an original simulation-based optimization method is tailored to the purpose of maximizing the contest score, considering parameters related to both design and operation of the building. A high level of model calibration was reached and the contest score was improved to help the ZEB prototype win the competition. Results demonstrated that the applied methodological framework was able to drive towards optimized and integrated design and operation strategies.