Decision support system for the early stage of green building envelope design considering energy and maintainability

ABSTRACT Green buildings (GB) show performance gaps despite a plethora of materials, technologies and stringent certification systems. India is predicted to shape the global energy demand shortly; hence, its recent GB mandate of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) will contribute significantly to the global Agenda 2030. However, its success depends on a holistic relook beyond the myopic design approach focused on energy efficiency. Therefore, a multi-criteria decision support system (DSS) based on the Best-Worst method was developed. It integrates ECBC and BIM-based energy simulation while facilitating maintainability performance prediction in the early phase of design of the GB envelope. The top five options out of 72 common envelope combinations for wall, fenestration and roof materials were chosen for energy performance. The DSS is flexible to accumulate other decision-making criteria as per project-specific requirements. Its efficacy was analysed with a GB located in a warm-humid climatic zone of India. Here, the material availability criterion was also added. The framework provides probing insights and facilitates decision-makers to act appropriately in the early design phase to ensure efficient performance in the long run.