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• Automatic MiC envelopes and layout generation by a novel SSG-MOO method. • Multi-objective optimization formulation for passive MiC design. • A pilot MiC study in Hong Kong produced 5 selected Pareto optima out of 625. • Up to 0.42% energy savings and 9.71% spatial daylight autonomy improvement against the baseline. • A multi-level analysis of results and design strategies for practitioners. Modular-integrated Construction (MiC) is an emerging construction technique promoted in the building sector for high productivity and low waste emission in the construction phase; yet, the standardized modules also bring new challenges, such as balancing passive energy efficiency and spatial daylight autonomy, to the operational phase. This paper proposes a Symmetric Skeleton Grammar-based Multi-Objective Optimization (SSG-MOO) method to formulate parametric MiC envelopes and detailed layout, with the two objective functions being energy efficiency and interior daylight performance in the operational phase. Pareto optima of the SSG-MOO, computed by the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II, are generally verified and analyzed in three levels, i.e., MOO's solution space, SSG layout, and MiC design parameters. A case study of MiC residential building in Hong Kong demonstrated the SSG-MOO method through five new passive MiC designs (i.e., spatial reorganization of three architectural modules, and parameter tuning of the envelops and corridors), achieving up to 0.42% energy savings and 9.71% spatial daylight autonomy improvement compared to the baseline design. The contribution of this paper is two-fold, including a novel and sound SSG-MOO formulation for parametric MiC designs, and offering time-efficient and evidence-based design tactics for MiC designers and industrial practitioners to push boundaries of MiC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hong Kong is located in a typical subtropical region. The buildings in Hong Kong are subjected to high cooling demands for their air-conditioning systems throughout most of the year, and their contribution toward the total energy consumption is about 40%. Therefore, energy efficiency in buildings is essential to reduce the global energy use and improve the local environmental sustainability. This paper provides an overall review of the building energy research and efforts in Hong Kong over the last decade. Various aspects and energy saving measures, including energy policy, energy audit, design, control, diagnosis, building performance evaluation and renewable energy systems, studied or used to enhance the energy efficiency in buildings are reviewed. A brief introduction of the Hong Kong Building Energy Codes (BEC) and Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (HK-BEAM) are also provided to present the efforts of the local government and community on energy efficiency in buildings. This review aims at providing building researchers and practitioners a better understanding of buildings energy saving opportunities and approaches in cities particularly in subtropical regions and taking further proper actions to promote buildings energy efficiency and conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]