A decision tree for an integrated cooling design

Building design should be done in an integrated way between architectural and engineering firms in order to identify technically and economically optimal solutions. Also, energy efficiency is more easily reached when considered as the starting point of the design, and when the specificities of the occupant’s profile are considered. To do so, designers need dedicated tools to guide the design and promote understanding between stakeholders. The proposed decision tree helps designers identify adequate cooling systems based on the occupant’s profile, buildings characteristics and locally available resources. Cooling systems are presented ranked according to their intrinsic energy efficiency. This decision tree could be used prior to detailed thermal simulations in order to impact the design at preliminary stages.