Optimization of high efficiency slab-on-ground floor by multi-objective analysis for zero energy buildings in mediterranean climate

The international scientific community believes unequivocally that, at the origin of the climate change, there are anthropic factors mainly linked to the construction sector and to the disproportionate use of fossil energy sources. The selection of building materials plays a key role in the reduction of energy consumption, especially in the Mediterranean area, where the internal overeating risk is high if the solar radiation is not controlled and the free supply of internal heat is poorly managed. Traditionally, in the Italian context, the slab-on-ground floor is made in concrete or more rarely in stone. However, it is usually recommended to minimize the use of concrete as it has a strong environmental impact, reinforced concrete is still the most recommended solution for foundations, both for regulatory and practical reasons. The present study proposes a methodology for the design of high efficiency slab-on-ground floor for warm climate through optimization code performed with the software modeFRONTIER. Starting from the traditional floor structures, the multi-objective methodology stands as an advanced step for the identification of new configurations, favoring the management of many variables, such as thermal, environmental and economic aspects. The results are characterized by high presence of local and eco-friendly materials and reduced costs. At the end, this work demonstrates that it is possible to obtain high performance solutions with also very few numbers of layers.