Thesis (BS Architecture) University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2018

The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of building envelopes in terms of how it could affect the energy consumption of the structure mainly focusing on buildings from educational institutions. This research aimed to present features and performances of building-related systems with the intention of minimizing existing Envelope Thermal Transfer Value (ETTV), and provide guide values for proposed designs using a search and optimization technique of Genetic Algorithm. Also, the annual energy consumption of the buildings was identified to justify the values. The researcher used the ETTV formula by the Building and Construction in Singapore which takes into consideration the parameters of a building envelope that transmits heat from the exterior to the interior, such as the building's orientation, its opaque wall and its conductive properties, fenestrations' conductive and other heat transmission properties, and the shading devices used in building-where in the ETTV of a building should not exceed 50 W/m²K for it to be energy efficient. With the data obtained from five (5) different buildings, it was identified that most of their building envelopes were energy efficient - having 29.45 W/m²K as the lowest and 53.32 W/m²K being the highest-and was justified by the ratio of energy consumption per space area of the structure. Furthermore, it was identified that material selection, window-to-wall ratio, and proper configuration of shading devices play a vital role in the total ETTV. The optimization also identified that structures can lessen the ETTV through altering some parameters such as their fenestration areas and configuring shading devices. In total, the evaluation, guides, and methods are effective in applying sustainable design on building envelopes for future developments.