Optimizing Solar Chimney Configuration Considering Cost, Quality of Service and Carbon Footprint

This article addresses the integration of multiple performance criteria in the design of energy-efficient building envelopes through an exact multiobjective optimization framework. The decision variables represent constructive features such as wall properties, glass thickness, and coating reflectance, while the objectives consider air changes per hour (ACH), equivalent CO2 emissions, and construction cost. A key contribution is the definition of a stable and realistic cost function that combines piecewise-linear unit prices, fixed components, overheads related to system height, and penalties linked to material thresholds. This formulation introduces non-linearities that better reflect practical construction processes and significantly influence the shape of the Pareto frontier. The solution approach relies on exact multiobjective techniques, including the \(\varepsilon \) -constraint method with Augmecon2 enhancements and the weighted-sum approach, to generate a comprehensive set of efficient solutions. The results illustrate how different cost elements, particularly fixed charges and piecewise-linear behaviors, break linearity and enrich the trade-offs between environmental and economic objectives. This allows decision makers to explore a wider range of feasible alternatives, supporting balanced choices between reducing emissions, improving energy performance, and maintaining economic viability. The proposed methodology contributes to sustainable building design by providing both methodological advances and practical insights.