A sequential search technique is utilized to optimize the design of residential buildings in several locations within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in order to minimize life cycle energy costs using a wide range of energy efficiency measures. In the analysis, design features of air-conditioned single-family homes (i.e., villas) are considered including orientation, window location and size, glazing type, wall and roof insulation levels, lighting fixtures, appliances, and efficiencies of heating and cooling systems. First, the results of the sequential search technique are compared against those obtained by a more time consuming brute-force optimization approach. Then, optimal design features for villas are determined for selected MENA locations. The optimization results indicate that adding roof insulation, reducing air infiltration, installation energy efficient appliances, lighting fixtures, and heating and cooling equipment are required energy efficiency measures to design high energy performance homes throughout climatic zones in the MENA region. In particular, it is found that implementing these measures can cost-effectively reduce the annual energy use by at least 50% compared to the current design practices of homes throughout the MENA region.

Keywords: Residential Buildings, Optimization, Design Options, Energy-Efficient Measures, Life Cycle Cost