Solar Optimization of Housing Development

Abstract

This study explored how to increase the on-site energy production of row-houses in a new urban development area located in Trondheim (Norway) from the early design stages. The process consisted in an evolutionary algorithmic for optimizing the shape of the building's roof in order to maximize the use of solar energy. Starting from the roof's profile of the traditional Norwegian house unit, different configurations have been tested. The process allowed changing iteratively the inclination and the size of the roof's surfaces. The selected roofs’ shapes guaranteed to get the maximum solar radiation and the solar mapping analysis allows individualizing the most suitable areas to install solar systems on the roofs’ surfaces of the entire district. The final configuration of the row-houses permitted to increase the solar potential around 30% respect the initial design solution.