Building Retrofitting using Hierarchical Optimization and Principal Component Analysis

In view of the needs for optimization (performance, costs) of building retrofitting, several methods have been proposed in the past. These methods are mostly based on multivariate analysis of data and on mathematical optimization methods. However, the complexity of the task reveals the need for further methodological developments. In this paper a new method based on Hierarchical Optimization (HO) and principal component analysis is proposed. Hierarchical optimization is concerned with decision making problems that involve multiple decision makers ordered within a hierarchical structure and has proved already its usefulness. It helps transforming a global optimization problem into a number of local ones, which also consort with engineering knowledge and practice. In this sense a principal component analysis helps greatly the definition of efficient sub-optimization problems. The above methodology is presented in the following and a case study illustrates its usefulness.