ABSTRACT

The aim of the present chapter is to analyse the decision support processes towards energy efficiency and improvement of the environmental quality in buildings. The main criteria in the decision analysis of buildings are categorized. The decision alternatives which may formulate specific actions, or group of actions (strategies) for buildings’ sustainability are analysed. The decision methodologies presented are separated to online (based on real-time operation of buildings) and offline decision approaches. Both approaches are supported by simulation, multi-objective programming optimization techniques, multi-criteria decision analysis techniques and their combinations in order to reach optimum solution, rank alternatives or provide trade-offs between the criteria. The advantages and drawbacks of the various methods are discussed and analysed.