Optimization of residential buildings and renewable energy integration in small island developing states: the Bahamas as a case study

Abstract

An optimization approach is used to assess the energy performance and design of residential homes in The Bahamas with the goal of providing objective data for policy makers to achieve the sustainability goals in the country. EnergyPlus and jEPlus+EA provide the platform for this study, implementing the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) for optimization. Optimal solutions are compared to a building model developed from audited data. The results indicate that design alternatives presented here can be feasibly implemented that possibly achieve net zero energy and carbon negative status. The peak reduction in life cycle costs is 42%, in building energy consumption is 30%. Additionally, the optimal R-values in the wall and roof constructions vary between 5-15, and 7-25, respectively. It was also shown that tariff rates have little effect on the construction of buildings, but has a larger impact on the integration of photovoltaics and battery storage.