Methodology for evaluating the thermal comfort of school building design using multi-criteria optimization

Abstract

Post occupancy evaluations of school buildings in the State of São Paulo have shown that schools present several problems related to environmental comfort, and that design criteria should be revised. This paper presents a design evaluation methodology based on the optimization of comfort parameters applicable at the preliminary design stage, devised for public schools from the State of São Paulo. The main goal was to maximize specific aspects of environmental comfort (thermal, lighting, acoustics and functionality) and characterize specific design solutions of existing typical designs. The method was tested on 35 school designs. Although conflicts between different comfort parameters are apparent, results show that multi-criteria optimization can be applied as a design tool. Final results showed that a set of compromise solutions exists, and that an optimal solution for all aspects of environmental comfort is not possible. The application also showed that optimization can be a powerful decision making tool for the design process.