International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Multi-Objective Optimization for Sustainable Management Strategies: Utilizing Daylighting to Enhance Thermal Comfort and Reduce Energy Consumption in Classrooms

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahdi Ouria 1
Asghar Asgharzadeh 2
Ali Alikhani 3
Mehdi Khakzand 4
1 Research Institute of Cyber Politics, AJA Command and staff University
2 Human Capital Research Institute, AJA Command and staff University
3 Department Architecture, Iran university Science and Technology, Iran, Tehran.
4 Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Iran University of Science & Technology
10.22034/ijumes.2025.2039678.1250
Abstract
This study investigates the optimization of energy consumption and thermal comfort in classrooms at the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Tehran by integrating daylighting strategies. A multi-objective optimization approach balanced the selection of glazing materials and the design of shading devices to effectively harness natural daylight. Using Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper with plugins Ladybug, Honeybee, and Wallacei X, simulations incorporated Tehran's climate data to model the impact of daylight on energy use and thermal comfort. The research focused on two classrooms, with models representing south-facing (Model A) and north-facing (Model B) orientations. Results highlighted that optimizing window characteristics and shading devices significantly reduced energy consumption and improved thermal comfort, as measured by Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) metrics. For Model A, PMV and PPD improved by 40% and 19%, respectively, while energy consumption decreased from 220 kWh to 190.54 kWh. For Model B, PMV and PPD improved by 17% and 15%, respectively, with energy consumption reduced from 228.78 kWh to 209.03 kWh. The findings demonstrate that integrating daylighting strategies, optimized window characteristics, and shading devices can significantly enhance both energy efficiency and thermal comfort in educational spaces. This approach provides a sustainable and efficient design solution, with potential applicability to various building types and climates.
Keywords
Educational Spaces
Daylight
Energy Efficiency
Optimization
Thermal Comfort
International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 July 2025

  • Receive Date 26 August 2024
  • Revise Date 31 October 2024
  • Accept Date 23 July 2025