Review and Decision-Making Tree for Methods to Balance Indoor Environmental Comfort and Energy Conservation During Building Operation

Shan Lin, Yu Zhang, Xuanjiang Chen, Chengzhi Pan, Xianjun Dong, Xiang Xie and Long Chen ()
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Shan Lin: Guangzhou Metro Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510010, China
Yu Zhang: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Xuanjiang Chen: Guangzhou Metro Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510010, China
Chengzhi Pan: Guangzhou Metro Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510010, China
Xianjun Dong: Nanbo Risheng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Delingha 817000, China
Xiang Xie: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Long Chen: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-25

Abstract: Effective building operation requires a careful balance between energy conservation and indoor environmental comfort. Although numerous methods have been developed to reduce energy consumption during the operational phase, their objectives and applications vary widely. However, the complexity of building energy management makes it challenging to identify the most suitable methods that simultaneously achieve both comfort and efficiency goals. Existing studies often lack a systematic framework that supports integrated decision-making under comfort constraints. This research aims to address this gap by proposing a decision-making tree for selecting energy conservation methods during building operation with an explicit consideration of indoor environmental comfort. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify four main energy-consuming components during building operation: the building envelope, HVAC systems, lighting systems, and plug loads and appliances. Three key comfort indicators—thermal comfort, lighting comfort, and air quality comfort—are defined, and energy conservation methods are categorized into three strategic groups: passive strategies, control optimization strategies, and behavioural intervention strategies. Each method is assessed using a defined set of evaluation criteria. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey is administered for the calibration of the decision tree, incorporating stakeholder preferences and expert judgement. The findings contribute to the advancement of understanding regarding the co-optimization of energy conservation and occupant comfort in building operations.

Keywords: energy efficiency; building energy management; indoor environmental comfort; energy conservation; decision-making tree (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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