The term “building optimization” here refers to a method that uses algorithms to find the optimal
combination of simulation parameter settings for architecture design. The goal is to find the optimum for
the lowest total energy cost using a much shorter simulation time than the approach of comparing each
possible parameter setting with one another.
The optimization approaches could be classified as either discrete or continuous parameter
optimization methods. Discrete parameters methods are typically used for façade design problems
because continuous parameters are almost non-existent in façade design. These discrete parameters may
include window dimension, construction material, insulation thickness, glazing types (SHGC, U-value),
etc. In contrast, continuous parameter methods do not use fixed numbers for the parameter setting for
building shape or dimension such as the window-to-wall ratio, building orientation, or compactness.
Comparatively, optimization methods using discrete parameters are more suitable to solve building façade
design problems