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This publication is part of the project PLEC2021007962, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTR.

Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Analysis of institutional authors

Caro, RosanaCorresponding AuthorBarbero-Barrera, Maria Del MarAuthorLatorre, AntonioAuthor

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Article

Prescriptive tool for zero-emissions building fenestration design using hybrid metaheuristic algorithms

Publicated to:Energy And Buildings. 336 115594- - 2025-06-01 336(), DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115594

Authors: Caro, Rosana; Cruz, Lorena; Martinez, Arturo; Naharro, Pablo S; Muelas, Santiago; Sancho, Kevin King; Cuerda, Elena; Barbero-Barrera, Maria del Mar; LaTorre, Antonio

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Abstract

Designing Zero-Emissions Buildings (ZEBs) involves balancing numerous complex objectives that traditional methods struggle to address. Fenestration, encompassing fa & ccedil;ade openings and shading systems, plays a critical role in ZEB performance due to its high thermal transmittance and solar radiation admission. This paper presents a novel simulation-based optimization method for fenestration designed for practical application. It uses a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm and relies on rules and an updatable catalog, to fully automate the design process, create a highly diverse search space, minimize biases, and generate detailed solutions ready for architectural prescription. Nineteen fenestration variables, over which architects have design flexibility, were optimized to reduce heating, cooling demand, and thermal discomfort in residential buildings. The method was tested across three Spanish climate zones. Results demonstrate that the considered optimization algorithm significantly outperforms the baseline Genetic Algorithm in both quality and robustness, with these differences proven to be statistically significant. Furthermore, the findings offer valuable insights for ZEB design, highlighting challenges in reducing cooling demand in warm climates, and showcasing the superior efficiency of automated movable shading systems compared to fixed solutions.

Keywords

Building shading systeClimate actionComputer-aided building designConsumptionEfficient building envelopeEnergy performanceFenestration optimizationFrameworkGaGenetic algorithmGeometryHybrid metaheuristic algorithmsMulti-objective optimizationMultiobjective optimizationSearchStageZero emission building

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Energy And Buildings due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 48/171, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Energy & Fuels.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-01:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 2 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/88571/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 27
  • Downloads: 3
Continuing with the social impact of the work, it is important to emphasize that, due to its content, it can be assigned to the area of interest of ODS 13 - Climate Action, with a probability of 74% according to the mBERT algorithm developed by Aurora University.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: United Kingdom.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (CARO MARTINEZ, ROSA ANA) and Last Author (LATORRE DE LA FUENTE, ANTONIO).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been CARO MARTINEZ, ROSA ANA.