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Abstract Worldwide, the residential buildings are consuming a considerable amount of energy. The high potential of buildings towards energy efficiency has drawn special attention to the passive design parameters. A comprehensive study on optimal passive design for residential buildings is presented in this paper. Twenty-five different climates are simulated with the aim to produce best practices to reduce building energy demands (for cooling and heating) in addition to the life-cycle cost (LCC). The occupants' adaptive thermal comfort is also improved by implementing the appropriate passive cooling strategies such as blinds and natural ventilation. In this respect, the implemented methodology is composed of four phases: building energy simulation, optimization, Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM), sensitivity study, and finally an adaptive comfort analysis. An optimal passive solution of the studied building indicates the potential to save up to 54%, 87% and 52% of the cooling demands (Qcool), heating demands (Qheat) and LCC respectively with respect to the initial configuration. The obtained optimal passive parameters are validated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL benchmark for low energy building's envelope. Additionally, the integrated passive cooling strategies have demonstrated its competency since it leads to a significant overheating decrease. Highlights • Residential building's passive design parameters are optimized. • Effect of different climates of Köppen Geiger classification is studied. • Thermal comfort and energy performance of the case-studies are significantly enhanced. • Passive cooling strategies lead to adequate thermal comfort and fewer cooling systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The application of an innovative translucent superinsulated latent heat storage wall, combining transparent insulation material and phase change materials (TIM-PCM wall), on the envelope of a typical office under different climates is evaluated. Energy and economic analysis related to this application are presented. The simulation process is carried out using an experimentally validated numerical model. The results show that the incorporation of the TIM-PCM wall, on the south orientation, is more efficient than the use of a double-glazed in all considered climates. The optimum TIM-PCM wall area is evaluated economically through life-cycle cost and payback period analysis. The purpose is to ensure effective performance of the wall in each climate and at the same time to ensure economic viability. The results show that, in polar and subarctic climates, the application of the TIM-PCM wall has a high economic value and the investment appears to be attractive, the payback period being 10.5 years and 7.8 years respectively. In Dras (continental climate), the use of the wall is found economically unfeasible due to low energy prices and high discount rates. At current prices, the TIM-PCM wall investment in Sacramento (Mediterranean climate) and Toronto (Humid continental) does not offer economic benefits. Highlights • Application of the TIM-PCM wall under different climates. • Energy and economic analysis related to the application of the TIM-PCM wall. • Evaluation of the optimum TIM-PCM wall area in each climatic condition. • Economic viability depends on climatic conditions, energy price and investment cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]