Repository logo
 

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • A new approach to provide sustainable solutions for residential sector
    Publication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, Joao; Abreu, António
    An 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 consumer
    Publication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, J. C. O.; Abreu, António
    In 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.
  • Using evolutionary algorithms to achieve sustainable solutions through household appliances
    Publication . Santos, Ricardo; Matias, J. C. O.; Abreu, António
    In 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 appliances
    Publication . Matias, João Carlos de Oliveira; Santos, Ricardo; Abreu, António
    The 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.