{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132687"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132687","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Maximizing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in naturally ventilated education buildings","abstract":"Education buildings in the United States are a critical part of the nation's infrastructure, serving 29% of the US population who spend a major part of their daytime indoors. These buildings represent 14% of the total commercial floor space and are the third major consumer of energy. Furthermore, the majority of these education buildings are aging, with 61% built before 1990, and they often suffer from poor ventilation and antiquated heating systems. These conditions of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal discomfort have been reported to negatively impact the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of students and faculty. Accordingly, building owners and designers need to carefully analyze and optimize the design of these buildings in order to maximize indoor air quality and thermal comfort while minimizing construction costs. The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the design of naturally-ventilated education buildings that provide the capability of maximizing indoor air quality and occupant thermal comfort while minimizing construction cost. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to develop: (1) a novel multi-objective optimization model for generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing indoor air quality in naturally-ventilated classrooms and minimizing their construction cost; (2) an innovative multi-objective optimization model for optimizing the building envelope design to maximize the thermal comfort of its occupants while minimizing its initial cost; and (3) an original multi-objective occupant comfort model that is capable of generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing weighted indoor air quality, maximizing weighted thermal comfort, and minimizing building envelope cost. The performance of the developed optimization models was analyzed and verified using case studies of naturally-ventilated education buildings. The results of this analysis illustrated the original contributions of the developed models and their novel methodologies for (i) generating optimal tradeoffs between classroom air quality and related construction cost; (ii) quantifying and optimizing classroom thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Adaptive Model; (iii) accounting for varying occupant loads across different building spaces using original weighted metrics for indoor air quality and thermal comfort; and (iv) maximizing weighted indoor air quality and weighted thermal comfort while minimizing envelope cost. These novel and unique capabilities are expected to support building designers in their ongoing efforts to enhance the indoor air quality of learning spaces, improve the thermal comfort of building occupants, and reduce the construction cost of education buildings. These improved learning environments will positively impact the academic performance, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.","abstract_html":"Education buildings in the United States are a critical part of the nation's infrastructure, serving 29% of the US population who spend a major part of their daytime indoors. These buildings represent 14% of the total commercial floor space and are the third major consumer of energy. Furthermore, the majority of these education buildings are aging, with 61% built before 1990, and they often suffer from poor ventilation and antiquated heating systems. These conditions of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal discomfort have been reported to negatively impact the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of students and faculty. Accordingly, building owners and designers need to carefully analyze and optimize the design of these buildings in order to maximize indoor air quality and thermal comfort while minimizing construction costs. The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the design of naturally-ventilated education buildings that provide the capability of maximizing indoor air quality and occupant thermal comfort while minimizing construction cost. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to develop: (1) a novel multi-objective optimization model for generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing indoor air quality in naturally-ventilated classrooms and minimizing their construction cost; (2) an innovative multi-objective optimization model for optimizing the building envelope design to maximize the thermal comfort of its occupants while minimizing its initial cost; and (3) an original multi-objective occupant comfort model that is capable of generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing weighted indoor air quality, maximizing weighted thermal comfort, and minimizing building envelope cost. The performance of the developed optimization models was analyzed and verified using case studies of naturally-ventilated education buildings. The results of this analysis illustrated the original contributions of the developed models and their novel methodologies for (i) generating optimal tradeoffs between classroom air quality and related construction cost; (ii) quantifying and optimizing classroom thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Adaptive Model; (iii) accounting for varying occupant loads across different building spaces using original weighted metrics for indoor air quality and thermal comfort; and (iv) maximizing weighted indoor air quality and weighted thermal comfort while minimizing envelope cost. These novel and unique capabilities are expected to support building designers in their ongoing efforts to enhance the indoor air quality of learning spaces, improve the thermal comfort of building occupants, and reduce the construction cost of education buildings. These improved learning environments will positively impact the academic performance, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Acosta Acosta, Dario Fernando"],"institution":"University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Civil Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["El-Rayes, Khaled","El-Gohary, Nora","Golparvar-Fard, Mani","Guest, Jeremy S."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-12","date_published":"2025-12","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:07Z","subjects":["Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)","Thermal Comfort","Natural Ventilation","Education Buildings","Multi-objective Optimization"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright 2025 Dario Acosta Acosta"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132687","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["El-Rayes, Khaled","El-Gohary, Nora","Golparvar-Fard, Mani","Guest, Jeremy S."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Acosta Acosta, Dario Fernando"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2025-12","2025-12-04"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text","Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)","Thermal Comfort","Natural Ventilation","Education Buildings","Multi-objective Optimization"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2025 Dario Acosta Acosta"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132687"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Education buildings in the United States are a critical part of the nation's infrastructure, serving 29% of the US population who spend a major part of their daytime indoors. These buildings represent 14% of the total commercial floor space and are the third major consumer of energy. Furthermore, the majority of these education buildings are aging, with 61% built before 1990, and they often suffer from poor ventilation and antiquated heating systems. These conditions of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal discomfort have been reported to negatively impact the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of students and faculty. Accordingly, building owners and designers need to carefully analyze and optimize the design of these buildings in order to maximize indoor air quality and thermal comfort while minimizing construction costs. The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the design of naturally-ventilated education buildings that provide the capability of maximizing indoor air quality and occupant thermal comfort while minimizing construction cost. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to develop: (1) a novel multi-objective optimization model for generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing indoor air quality in naturally-ventilated classrooms and minimizing their construction cost; (2) an innovative multi-objective optimization model for optimizing the building envelope design to maximize the thermal comfort of its occupants while minimizing its initial cost; and (3) an original multi-objective occupant comfort model that is capable of generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing weighted indoor air quality, maximizing weighted thermal comfort, and minimizing building envelope cost. The performance of the developed optimization models was analyzed and verified using case studies of naturally-ventilated education buildings. The results of this analysis illustrated the original contributions of the developed models and their novel methodologies for (i) generating optimal tradeoffs between classroom air quality and related construction cost; (ii) quantifying and optimizing classroom thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Adaptive Model; (iii) accounting for varying occupant loads across different building spaces using original weighted metrics for indoor air quality and thermal comfort; and (iv) maximizing weighted indoor air quality and weighted thermal comfort while minimizing envelope cost. These novel and unique capabilities are expected to support building designers in their ongoing efforts to enhance the indoor air quality of learning spaces, improve the thermal comfort of building occupants, and reduce the construction cost of education buildings. These improved learning environments will positively impact the academic performance, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2027-12-01","The student, Dario Acosta Acosta, accepted the attached license on 2025-12-03 at 18:08.","The student, Dario Acosta Acosta, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2025-12-03 at 18:20.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2025-12-04 at 20:27.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #23054 on 2026-02-19 at 18:46:42"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Maximizing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in naturally ventilated education buildings"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["El-Rayes, Khaled","El-Gohary, Nora","Golparvar-Fard, Mani","Guest, Jeremy S."],"dc:creator":["Acosta Acosta, Dario Fernando"],"dc:date":["2025-12","2025-12-04"],"dc:description":["Education buildings in the United States are a critical part of the nation's infrastructure, serving 29% of the US population who spend a major part of their daytime indoors. These buildings represent 14% of the total commercial floor space and are the third major consumer of energy. Furthermore, the majority of these education buildings are aging, with 61% built before 1990, and they often suffer from poor ventilation and antiquated heating systems. These conditions of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal discomfort have been reported to negatively impact the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of students and faculty. Accordingly, building owners and designers need to carefully analyze and optimize the design of these buildings in order to maximize indoor air quality and thermal comfort while minimizing construction costs. The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the design of naturally-ventilated education buildings that provide the capability of maximizing indoor air quality and occupant thermal comfort while minimizing construction cost. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to develop: (1) a novel multi-objective optimization model for generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing indoor air quality in naturally-ventilated classrooms and minimizing their construction cost; (2) an innovative multi-objective optimization model for optimizing the building envelope design to maximize the thermal comfort of its occupants while minimizing its initial cost; and (3) an original multi-objective occupant comfort model that is capable of generating optimal tradeoffs between maximizing weighted indoor air quality, maximizing weighted thermal comfort, and minimizing building envelope cost. The performance of the developed optimization models was analyzed and verified using case studies of naturally-ventilated education buildings. The results of this analysis illustrated the original contributions of the developed models and their novel methodologies for (i) generating optimal tradeoffs between classroom air quality and related construction cost; (ii) quantifying and optimizing classroom thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Adaptive Model; (iii) accounting for varying occupant loads across different building spaces using original weighted metrics for indoor air quality and thermal comfort; and (iv) maximizing weighted indoor air quality and weighted thermal comfort while minimizing envelope cost. These novel and unique capabilities are expected to support building designers in their ongoing efforts to enhance the indoor air quality of learning spaces, improve the thermal comfort of building occupants, and reduce the construction cost of education buildings. These improved learning environments will positively impact the academic performance, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2027-12-01","The student, Dario Acosta Acosta, accepted the attached license on 2025-12-03 at 18:08.","The student, Dario Acosta Acosta, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2025-12-03 at 18:20.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2025-12-04 at 20:27.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #23054 on 2026-02-19 at 18:46:42"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132687"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2025 Dario Acosta Acosta"],"dc:subject":["Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)","Thermal Comfort","Natural Ventilation","Education Buildings","Multi-objective Optimization"],"dc:title":["Maximizing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in naturally ventilated education buildings"],"dc:type":["text","Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Civil Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:07Z"}