EVALUATION OF COMBINED COMFORT INDEX AND ENERGY CONSERVATION OF INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS USING MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING

Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted factors influencing national development, emphasizing the pivotal role of quality education and university infrastructure. It introduces an innovative approach to identify and evaluate Key Performance Indicators for institutional buildings, blending global insights with local contexts. The study underscores the critical need for energy optimization due to accelerating urbanization, advocating for building orientation, envelope design, and the development of a Combined Comfort Index. Despite the urgency of this issue, there is a dearth of extensive research, making this study particularly relevant and timely To fortify the validity of this research, a survey is deployed among professionals representing diverse fields, each possessing a wealth of experience exceeding 15 years. The study's credibility is further underscored by a robust Cronbach's alpha value surpassing 0.8, affirming the reliability of the collected data. Employing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, the research unravels the relative significance of key performance indicators, with a notable emphasis on Thermal, Illumination, and Aural Conditions as pivotal contributors to overall user comfort. The study extends its gaze to encompass additional indicators such as air quality, user satisfaction, and cleanliness, projecting implications that reverberate on an international scale, casting a profound influence on both design principles and Facility Management practices. Proposing the prioritization of Thermal, Illumination, and Aural Condition during the initial design phases aligns seamlessly with the globally resonant mantra of user-centric design, empowering facility personnel to promptly address crucial indicators, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and elevating the overall user experience. Shifting the focus to the realm of educational infrastructure, this research intricately explores the dynamic relationship between a country's developmental status and the standards of its educational institutions. Introducing a ground breaking metric, the study seamlessly integrates parameters such as thermal, acoustic, and visual elements to holistically assess environmental comfort. The canvas for this exploration is set at the National Institute of Technology Warangal campus in India, where a meticulous combination of objective measurements and subjective surveys weaves a rich tapestry of insights. Three singular measures— a Thermo-hygrometric Index, an Audio comfort Index and a Visual Illumination Index — are introduced, each normalized within a 0-1 range denoting comfort and discomfort conditions. This study maintained a dedicated focus on single sharing rooms to ensure coherence and uniformity within the analytical framework. A total 1 comfort index for each room is established by assigning appropriate weights to the three factors, culminating in an overall comfort rating of 0.64 out of 1. Transitioning to the arena of sustainable design, the study offers a nuanced examination of the influence of building orientation on energy savings. Drawing inspiration from a multi-storied residential house in Afghanistan as a case study, the research unfolds in two distinct steps. First, a meticulous 3D model of the building is crafted, and second, energy scenarios for different orientations are scrutinized through simulations. The energy analysis encompasses 24 test scenarios, each representing a 15° rotation in building orientation, with the actual orientation as the reference. The findings resonate with financial implications, revealing potential savings of $1393 per annum when opting for the most favourable orientation (+ 315° clockwise) compared to the least favourable (+ 165° clockwise) from the reference axis. The simulated electricity demand is further validated against actual bills, demonstrating a close correspondence with a marginal difference of 2.65%. Concluding this expansive exploration is a foray into predictive modelling, leveraging the power of a Multi-Layer Perceptron model. Employing a rigorous training and testing regimen, the study utilizes 75% of observed data for model training and 25% for testing. The Multi-Layer Perceptron model consistently demonstrates high accuracy in predicting and reconstructing a Combined Comfort Index, unveiling valuable insights into the interplay between predictors Thermal, Visual, Acoustical indexes and the target variable Combined Comfort Index. Individual parametric data reconstruction adds an additional layer of depth to the evaluation, providing a nuanced understanding of the model's conformity with actual data. The index aids in assessing and enhancing comfort in India's diverse climatic zones, including hot and dry, warm and humid, composite, temperate, and cold zones as per NBC 2016. It enables design adaptations tailored to each zone, emphasizing strategies like natural ventilation and shading in hot and dry areas, and humidity control in warm and humid regions. Additionally, the index supports energy-efficient building designs by optimizing insulation, glazing, and shading based on specific climatic conditions. Architects, engineers, and policymakers can utilize the index to ensure compliance with NBC 2016's thermal comfort requirements across India's varied climatic zones. This research, therefore, transcends the boundaries of conventional studies, not only advancing the realm of institutional building performance evaluation but also laying a robust foundation 2 for further investigations in the domains of sustainable design and predictive modelling. It stands as a testament to the interconnectedness of diverse factors influencing the educational landscape and the built environment, resonating on a global scale and beckoning future explorations in these critical domains.