Integrating and optimizing metrics of sustainable building performance using human-focused agent-based modeling

Sustainable building performance requires the integration of various metrics such as energy consumption, thermal comfort levels, occupants’ wellbeing, and productivity. Despite their interdependence, these metrics have been mostly evaluated independently, overlooking potential tradeoffs that can occur between them (e.g., energy conservation efforts and thermal comfort). In addition, human-related factors such as occupants’ energy consumption behaviors, schedules, and movements between buildings cannot be captured using current commercial building modeling tools. Consequently, simulating the performance of a group of buildings such as in a campus, neighborhood, or city remains very challenging. In this paper, a comprehensive agent-based modeling (ABM) framework is developed to: (1) model an urban area with several buildings along with the movements and actions of people within the environment; (2) calculate key performance metrics such as indoor/outdoor thermal comfort and energy consumption levels; and (3) test and propose strategies to optimize sustainable building operation. This study illustrates the multidisciplinary approach needed to capture various dimensions of sustainable building performance. The framework is then applied to a green campus environment, identifying an energy management strategy that can reduce energy consumption by 19% without compromising occupants’ comfort and wellbeing.