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- A new approach to provide sustainable solutions for residential sectorPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, Joao; Abreu, AntónioAn energy-efficient appliance normally presents a lower energy con-sumption compared to a less efficient one, with a higher initial investment, alt-hough this not always happens. Additionally, each appliance, presents very dif-ferent features, leading to some difficulties on its choice by the consumer (deci-sion-agent). On the other hand, each consumer, has specific and distinguished needs from other consumers, namely of social, economic or environmental nature. Even by adopting these criteria, this is not an isolated guarantee of an optimal solution for the consumer. It is then necessary to complement this approach with multicriteria, combined with optimization techniques. Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), could be used as an optimization technique, to provide sustainable solutions to the consumer, from the market. In this paper, it’s presented an approach that integrates both concepts, where at the end, it shall be presented a case study, to demonstrate the application of the proposed method.
- An approach to provide efficient choices to a household consumerPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, J. C. O.; Abreu, AntónioIn this work, it will be presented an approach, applied to an energy efficiency problema in buildings, which allows the decision-agent (consumer) to perform a set of efficient choices, suitable to its needs, reducing therefore, the building overall energy consumption during the equipment lifecycle period (usage phase). The approach will use Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), combined with Multicriteria analysis. The quality of EA solutions will be evaluated through the comparison, with the ones, obtained from Simplex method. The EA robustness to the change of its parameters, will also be evaluated, as well as the influence of the objective function on its behavior. The approach can provide the consumer with several and different efficient solutions, with less time than Simplex. I tis also possible to improve the obtained solutions, by choosing adequately the EA`s control parameters, as well the problema formulation.
- Energy efficiency in buildings by using evolutionary algorithms: an approach to provide efficiency choices to the consumer, considering the rebound effectPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, João; Abreu, AntónioEnergy efficiency can be achieved, by making optimal choices of household appliances, based on specific rules for consumption and use. However, it's not always possible to achieve good solutions, since in general, an efficient equipment, with an economic consumption savings during his life cycle, is usually an expensive one, with a high initial investment. Additionally, the interaction of these choices, associated with consumer behavior, could lead toward to efficient losses during the lifecycle of the equipment, and then to a situation of indirect rebound effect. In this work, it is presented an approach, applied to the residential buildings, by using evolutionary algorithms to support consumer decisions. The approach presented here, could promote energy efficiency by providing the consumer with several optimal and feasible solutions, and at the same time, with information about the impact of his choices made on future.
- Evolutionary algorithms on reducing energy consumption in buildings: An approach to provide smart and efficiency choices, considering the rebound effectPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, João; Abreu, António; Reis, FranciscoThis paper presents a model to promote energy efficiency among household appliances, by supporting the consumer decisions through the maximization of his savings, associated to a set of electrical appliances from the market to be acquired. Not always an efficient equipment from the market, is more expensive than a less efficient one, which can lead the consumer to compromise the expected savings on future. Given the several models/brands available on market and its possible combinations, the problem can be defined as a combinatorial problem, whose complexity can compromise the efficiency of using deterministic algorithms. Genetic algorithms (GM) were therefore included in the model, whose results were compared later with Simplex to verify the quality of the obtained solutions, as well as their performance. In addition, it was performed a statistical analysis of the obtained results, as well as a sensitivity analysis of GAs parameters, to validate their robustness. we conclude that the proposed method can provide several efficient solutions to the problem, as well as sensitize the consumer to their choices made on future, by estimating their corresponding rebound effect.
- Using evolutionary algorithms to achieve sustainable solutions through household appliancesPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, J. C. O.; Abreu, AntónioIn order to reach a sustainable planet, there is a permanent need by the consumer (decision- agent), to achieve sustainable solutions, with its decisions. Given the importance of the buildings, as a sector to achieve such solutions, as well as the diversity of household appliances existent on the market, with all its different issues, there are several tradeoffs to consider (e.g. energy and water consumption vs initial investment), which difficult the consumer’s choices from the market. The problem increases, since nowadays, the consumer tries to get a solution from the market, with a good compromise between the Economic, Social and Environmental dimensions, and according to its specific needs, which can be different from other consumers. By considering a multicriteria approach, combined with an optimization technique, based on Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), it’s provided a set of sustainable solutions from the market to the consumer that respects the compromise referred before. In this work, it is presented an approach to support a decision-agent (DA) (consumer), by performing a set of sustainable choices based on household appliances from the market and suitable to its needs. Based on the obtained solutions, several savings are achieved (electrical and water consumption, CO2 emissions), by considering the consumer’s relative importance, regarding its Economics, Environmental and Social concerns.
- A decision support approach to provide sustainable solutions to the consumer, by using electrical appliancesPublication . Matias, João Carlos de Oliveira; Santos, Ricardo; Abreu, AntónioThe diversity of energy efficiency appliances existent on the market, with all its different issues, contributes to the existence of several tradeoffs (e.g., energy and water consumption vs.initial investment), which make the consumer’s choices in the market difficult. This becomes even more relevant, by knowing that nowadays a consumer tries to get a solution from the market, with a good compromise between the economic, social and environmental dimensions, and according to its priorities and specific needs, which can be different from other consumers. By adopting a multicriteria approach, combined with an optimization technique, based on evolutionary algorithms (EA), it will be possible to provide a set of sustainable solutions from the market to the consumer, that respects the compromise referred before. In this work, it will be presented an approach to support a decision-agent (DA) (consumer), by performing a set of sustainable choices based on electrical appliances, from the market and suitable to its needs. The method will be applied to a case study, to demonstrate its application. Regarding the obtained solutions, several savings are achieved (electrical and water consumption, CO2 emissions) by taking into account the consumer’s relative importance, regarding each dimension considered.
- Getting eflcient choices in buildings by using Genetic Algorithms: assessment & validationPublication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, João; Abreu, AntónioThe energy consumption in buildings, can be reduced through a rational choice of the household appliances to be acquired. This choice can be based, on a specific criteria, settled according to the consumer needs. However, such choice, still needs to be optimized, since in general, an efficient equipment has a high investment, although a low energy consumption. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are used therefore, as an optimization technique, to get efficient and several solutions, based on those pre-selected from the market, and according to a set of criteria. However, there is a need to assess its robustness as well as its consistence in terms of convergence results. The quality of its solutions is also assessed, by comparing GAs results with those, obtained from Simplex method. The problem formulation, and its influence on GAs results, is also considered on this work, where it’s chosen the best one, among four proposed. In this paper it is presented a methodology that allows to promote energy efficiency in buildings, by achieving savings in terms of initial investment, energy consumption and CO2 emissions for the consumer. It is shown that GAs, can provide several and optimal solutions, through formulation and parameters suitable.