Multi-Objective Optimization of PCM-Enhanced Passive Envelopes for Net-Zero Hotel Buildings in Tropical Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.3652Keywords:
Multi-objective optimization, Tropical climate, Passive design, PCM envelopes, Net-zero hotelsAbstract
This paper presents a hybrid optimization methodology to design net-zero energy buildings in hotel establishments in locations with tropical climates in Indonesia. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are used to enhance passive design integrated with envelope systems that prove to be climatically accustomed locally. As a combination of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and EnergyPlus simulation through DesignBuilder, the analysis observes the multi-objective optimization based on four Köppen climate groups: Af, Am, Aw, and Bsh. There were two optimization cases considered: the first one focused on minimizing Total Energy Consumption (TEC) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC), whereas the second aimed to optimize TEC and CO₂ emissions. The analysis studied configurations of PCM (melting temperature, thickness, and position) and different wall types (brick, concrete block, cast concrete, and earth) in six cities. The studies find considerable performance improvement: reductions in TEC of up to 47.8%, LCC savings of 29.6%, and CO₂ emission reductions of up to 52.96%, particularly in externally placed PCMs in optimal melting ranges (23-29°C). Wall-like structures on earth were the most efficient because they had a thermal inertia. The results emphasize the significant potential of PCM-enhanced passive approaches to minimizing energy and emissions use in the hottest, most humid weather. This paper adds a climate-adaptive planning model of environmentally friendly hotels in Southeast Asia that provides further advice to developers and designers who want to develop cost-efficient, low-carbon hospitality projects.
Keywords: Net-zero hotels, PCM envelopes, Passive design, Tropical climate, Multi-objective optimization
References
[1] M. Lu and J. H. K. Lai, “Building energy: a review on consumptions, policies, rating schemes and standards,” Energy Procedia, vol. 158, pp. 3633–3638, Feb. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.899.
[2] N. Nasrullah and M. A. Hamdy, “Air Conditioning Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Hotel Buildings in Hot and Humid Tropical Climates,” Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res., vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 18290–18299, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.48084/etasr.8463.
[3] N. Nasrullah, M. A. Hamdy, M. T. Mustamin, and A. Faharuddin, “Energy Management Model for Air Conditioning Energy Conservation in Hotel Buildings of Makassar City, Indonesia,” Civ. Eng. Archit., vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 2755–2771, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.13189/cea.2024.120419.
[4] C. Li et al., “Experimental thermal performance of wallboard with hybrid microencapsulated phase change materials for building application,” J. Build. Eng., vol. 28, p. 101051, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101051.
[5] N. Zhu, S. Li, P. Hu, F. Lei, and R. Deng, “Numerical investigations on performance of phase change material Trombe wall in building,” Energy, vol. 187, p. 116057, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116057.
[6] M. Mahdaoui et al., “Building bricks with phase change material (PCM): Thermal performances,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 269, p. 121315, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121315.
[7] M. Ren, X. Wen, X. Gao, and Y. Liu, “Thermal and mechanical properties of ultra-high performance concrete incorporated with microencapsulated phase change material,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 273, p. 121714, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121714.
[8] P. K. S. Rathore, N. K. Gupta, D. Yadav, S. K. Shukla, and S. Kaul, “Thermal performance of the building envelope integrated with phase change material for thermal energy storage: an updated review.,” Sustain. Cities Soc., vol. 79, p. 103690, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.103690.
[9] R. A. Kishore, M. V. A. Bianchi, C. Booten, J. Vidal, and R. Jackson, “Enhancing building energy performance by effectively using phase change material and dynamic insulation in walls,” Appl. Energy, vol. 283, p. 116306, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116306.
[10] K. Faraj, M. Khaled, J. Faraj, F. Hachem, and C. Castelain, “Phase change material thermal energy storage systems for cooling applications in buildings: A review,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 119, p. 109579, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109579.
[11] Q. Al-Yasiri and M. Szabó, “Incorporation of phase change materials into building envelope for thermal comfort and energy saving: A comprehensive analysis,” J. Build. Eng., vol. 36, p. 102122, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102122.
[12] N. H. Abu-Hamdeh, R. A. R. Bantan, and R. I. Hatamleh, “Carbon dioxide reduction using passive technique of incorporating phase change materials into envelopes: A case study of climate data from Saudi Arabia,” J. Energy Storage, vol. 49, p. 104153, May 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.104153.
[13] M. Arıcı, F. Bilgin, M. Krajčík, S. Nižetić, and H. Karabay, “Energy saving and CO2 reduction potential of external building walls containing two layers of phase change material,” Energy, vol. 252, p. 124010, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124010.
[14] Y. Qu, D. Zhou, F. Xue, and L. Cui, “Multi-factor analysis on thermal comfort and energy saving potential for PCM-integrated buildings in summer,” Energy Build., vol. 241, p. 110966, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110966.
[15] M. Saffari, A. de Gracia, C. Fernández, and L. F. Cabeza, “Simulation-based optimization of PCM melting temperature to improve the energy performance in buildings,” Appl. Energy, vol. 202, pp. 420–434, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.107.
[16] H. Wang, W. Lu, Z. Wu, and G. Zhang, “Parametric analysis of applying PCM wallboards for energy saving in high-rise lightweight buildings in Shanghai,” Renew. Energy, vol. 145, pp. 52–64, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.05.124.
[17] M. Li, Q. Cao, H. Pan, X. Wang, and Z. Lin, “Effect of melting point on thermodynamics of thin PCM reinforced residential frame walls in different climate zones,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 188, p. 116615, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.116615.
[18] S. Wi, S. J. Chang, and S. Kim, “Improvement of thermal inertia effect in buildings using shape stabilized PCM wallboard based on the enthalpy-temperature function,” Sustain. Cities Soc., vol. 56, p. 102067, May 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102067.
[19] R. Saxena, D. Rakshit, and S. C. Kaushik, “Experimental assessment of Phase Change Material (PCM) embedded bricks for passive conditioning in buildings,” Renew. Energy, vol. 149, pp. 587–599, Apr. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.081.
[20] J. Li et al., “Thermal comfort in a building with Trombe wall integrated with phase change materials in hot summer and cold winter region without air conditioning,” Energy Built Environ., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 58–69, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.enbenv.2022.07.007.
[21] M. Sovetova, S. A. Memon, and J. Kim, “Thermal performance and energy efficiency of building integrated with PCMs in hot desert climate region,” Sol. Energy, vol. 189, pp. 357–371, Sep. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.067.
[22] A. R, A. A. R. V, G. NB, and P. R, “Experimental and numerical investigation of PCMS on ceilings for thermal management,” J. Eng. Res., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 229–242, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jer.2023.08.023.
[23] J. Skovajsa, P. Drabek, S. Sehnalek, and M. Zalesak, “Design and experimental evaluation of phase change material based cooling ceiling system,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 205, p. 118011, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.118011.
[24] I. I. Hakim, R. Edriawan, and N. Putra, “Thermal performance and properties analysis of a building envelope integrated with phase change material for energy conservation in a tropical climate region,” 2024, p. 080003. doi: 10.1063/5.0188417.
[25] P. Byrne et al., “Design of a solar AC system including a PCM storage for sustainable resorts in tropical region,” Evergreen, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 143–148, 2019, doi: 10.5109/2321009.
[26] Y. Dong et al., “Potential evaluation of energy flexibility and energy-saving of PCM-integrated office building walls,” J. Build. Eng., vol. 79, p. 107857, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.107857.
[27] M. Salihi et al., “Evaluation of global energy performance of building walls integrating PCM: Numerical study in semi-arid climate in Morocco,” Case Stud. Constr. Mater., vol. 16, p. e00979, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e00979.
[28] M. Terhan and G. Ilgar, “Investigation of used PCM-integrated into building exterior walls for energy savings and optimization of PCM melting temperatures,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 369, p. 130601, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.130601.
[29] G. Wang, Y. Ma, S. Zhang, D. Li, R. Hu, and Y. Zhou, “Thermal performance of a novel double-glazed window combining PCM and solar control glass in summer,” Renew. Energy, vol. 219, p. 119363, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119363.
[30] X. Zhang, Z. Liu, P. Wang, and B. Li, “Performance evaluation of a novel rotatable dynamic window integrated with a phase change material and a vacuum layer,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 272, p. 116333, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2022.116333.
[31] L. Wei, G. Li, S.-T. Ruan, and H. Qi, “Dynamic coupled heat transfer and energy conservation performance of multilayer glazing window filled with phase change material in summer day,” J. Energy Storage, vol. 49, p. 104183, May 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.104183.
[32] P. C. Tabares-Velasco, C. Christensen, and M. Bianchi, “Verification and validation of EnergyPlus phase change material model for opaque wall assemblies,” Build. Environ., vol. 54, pp. 186–196, Aug. 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.02.019.
[33] D. Beltran, J. Martínez-Gómez, and A. Lobato-Cordero, “Effect of Environment on the Selection of Phase Change Materials for Building Wallboards using Multi-criteria Decision Methods and Building Energy Simulations,” Aug. 2017. doi: 10.26868/25222708.2017.349.
[34] BioPCM, “BioPCM. Phase Change Energy Solutions. Available online,” 2023, [Online]. Available: https://phasechange.com/
[35] BioPCM, “BioPCM, Phase Change Energy Solutions.,” 2024. [Online]. Available: https://phasechange.com/biopcm/
[36] B. Y. Yun, J. H. Park, S. Yang, S. Wi, and S. Kim, “Integrated analysis of the energy and economic efficiency of PCM as an indoor decoration element: Application to an apartment building,” Sol. Energy, vol. 196, pp. 437–447, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.12.006.
[37] Meteoblue, “Simulated historical climate & weather data for Indonesia.” [Online]. Available: https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/indonesia_indonesia_1643084
[38] A. Saurbayeva, S. A. Memon, and J. Kim, “Sensitivity analysis and optimization of PCM integrated buildings in a tropical savanna climate,” J. Build. Eng., vol. 64, p. 105603, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105603.
[39] Infinite, “Infinite R Phase Change Material.,” 2023. [Online]. Available: https://infiniterpcm.com/lander
[40] W. Chen et al., “Experimental and numerical investigations on radiant floor heating system integrated with macro-encapsulated phase change material,” Energy, vol. 282, p. 128375, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128375.
[41] M. Che-Pan, E. Simá, A. Ávila-Hernández, J. Uriarte-Flores, and R. Vargas-López, “Thermal performance of a window shutter with a phase change material as a passive system for buildings in warm and cold climates of México,” Energy Build., vol. 281, p. 112775, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.112775.
[42] P. Agarwal and A. Prabhakar, “Energy and thermo-economic analysis of PCM integrated brick in composite climatic condition of Jaipur - A numerical study,” Sustain. Cities Soc., vol. 88, p. 104294, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.104294.
[43] H. Yang et al., “Multi-objective optimization designs of phase change material-enhanced building using the integration of the Stacking model and NSGA-III algorithm,” J. Energy Storage, vol. 68, p. 107807, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2023.107807.
[44] B. Paramita and A. Matzarakis, “Urban Biometeorology of Tropical Climate: Af, Am, Aw, a Propensity of 34 Provincial Cities in Indonesia,” 2023, pp. 283–296. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-3675-5_16.
[45] EPW, “EnergyPlus Weather File (EPW) Format.” [Online]. Available: https://designbuilder.co.uk/cahelp/Content/EnergyPlusWeatherFileFormat.htm
[46] OneBuilding, “Repository of Building Simulation Climate Data From the Creators of the EPW.” [Online]. Available: https://climate.onebuilding.org/
[47] E. Documentation, “WeatherData: Getting Started.” [Online]. Available: https://bigladdersoftware.com/epx/docs/22-2/getting-started/weatherdata.html
[48] Z. A. Al-Absi, M. H. Mohd Isa, and M. Ismail, “Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Their Optimum Position in Building Walls,” Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 4, p. 1294, Feb. 2020, doi: 10.3390/su12041294.
[49] Z. Shi, J. Ren, T. Zhang, and Y. Shen, “The Effects of Thickness and Location of PCM on the Building’s Passive Temperature-Control–A Numerical Study,” Energy Eng., vol. 121, no. 3, pp. 681–702, 2024, doi: 10.32604/ee.2023.045238.
[50] A. Standard, “Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.” [Online]. Available: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/standard-55-thermal-environmental-conditions-for-human-occupancy
[51] A. Baniassadi, B. Sajadi, M. Amidpour, and N. Noori, “Economic optimization of PCM and insulation layer thickness in residential buildings,” Sustain. Energy Technol. Assessments, vol. 14, pp. 92–99, Apr. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2016.01.008.
[52] A. A. A. Gassar, G. Y. Yun, S. Kim, and C.-H. Han, “ENERGY AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF APPLYING BIO-BASED PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS TO BUILDINGS IN EAST ASIA,” J. Green Build., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 157–181, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.3992/1943-4618.15.2.157.
[53] Q. Li et al., “Thermoeconomic analysis of a wall incorporating phase change material in a rural residence located in northeast China,” Sustain. Energy Technol. Assessments, vol. 44, p. 101091, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2021.101091.
[54] A. Lauer, “Electricity Emissions Around The World.” [Online]. Available: https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/electricity-emissions-around-the-world-2/
[55] H. Kim and M. J. Clayton, “A multi-objective optimization approach for climate-adaptive building envelope design using parametric behavior maps,” Build. Environ., vol. 185, p. 107292, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107292.
[56] E. Markarian and F. Fazelpour, “Multi-objective optimization of energy performance of a building considering different configurations and types of PCM,” Sol. Energy, vol. 191, pp. 481–496, Oct. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.09.003.
[57] H. Gbran and K. W. Alzamil, “Integrated Waste Management in Smart Cities: A Case Study of Circular Economy Solutions in Msheireb Downtown Doha,” Alzamil Int. J. Emerg. Technol., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 14–29, 2025, [Online]. Available: www.researchtrend.net
[58] H. Gbran, S. Rukayah, A. Suprapti, and E. E. Pandelaki, “A Hybrid Framework Employing Deep Learning for 3D Decay Segmentation and Adaptive Mapping of Heritage Structures : Insights from an Experiment,” vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 101–135, 2025.
[59] H. Gbran, S. Rukayah, A. Suprapti, and E. E. Pandelaki, “Innovative Strategies for Optimizing Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Heritage Architecture: The Case of Lawang Sewu 1,” vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 90–101, 2025.
[60] S. Abbasian-Naghneh and R. Kalbasi, “Implementation of ANN and GA on building with PCM at various setpoints, PCM types, and installation locations to boost energy saving and CO2 saving,” Eng. Anal. Bound. Elem., vol. 144, pp. 110–126, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.enganabound.2022.08.006.
[61] D. Kumar, M. Alam, and J. G. Sanjayan, “Retrofitting Building Envelope Using Phase Change Materials and Aerogel Render for Adaptation to Extreme Heatwave: A Multi-Objective Analysis Considering Heat Stress, Energy, Environment, and Cost,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 19, p. 10716, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/su131910716.
[62] Y. Lin, S. Zhong, W. Yang, X. Hao, and C.-Q. Li, “Multi-objective design optimization on building integrated photovoltaic with Trombe wall and phase change material based on life cycle cost and thermal comfort,” Sustain. Energy Technol. Assessments, vol. 46, p. 101277, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2021.101277.
[63] V. D. Cao, T. Q. Bui, and A.-L. Kjøniksen, “Thermal analysis of multi-layer walls containing geopolymer concrete and phase change materials for building applications,” Energy, vol. 186, p. 115792, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.07.122.
[64] J. Lei, J. Yang, and E.-H. Yang, “Energy performance of building envelopes integrated with phase change materials for cooling load reduction in tropical Singapore,” Appl. Energy, vol. 162, pp. 207–217, Jan. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.031.
[65] N. Zhu, F. Liu, P. Liu, P. Hu, and M. Wu, “Energy saving potential of a novel phase change material wallboard in typical climate regions of China,” Energy Build., vol. 128, pp. 360–369, Sep. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.06.093.
[66] A. Gounni and M. El Alami, “The optimal allocation of the PCM within a composite wall for surface temperature and heat flux reduction: An experimental Approach,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 127, pp. 1488–1494, Dec. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.08.168.
[67] R. Schmidt, M. Voigt, and R. Mailach, “Latin Hypercube Sampling-Based Monte Carlo Simulation: Extension of the Sample Size and Correlation Control,” 2019, pp. 279–289. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-77767-2_17.
[68] A. Kopányi, L. Á. Pallagi, and K. Poczobutt, “Investigation of the resiliency of passive and natural cooling solutions through uncertainty analysis in a NZEB residential building in Denmark,” Build. Simul. Conf. Proc., pp. 2475–2482, 2022, doi: 10.26868/25222708.2021.30372.
[69] K. Jiao, L. Lu, L. Zhao, and G. Wang, “Towards Passive Building Thermal Regulation: A State-of-the-Art Review on Recent Progress of PCM-Integrated Building Envelopes,” Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 15, p. 6482, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.3390/su16156482.
[70] C. Hildegardis, A. Agung Ayu Oka Saraswati, and N. Ketut Agusinta Dewi, “Review of Thermal Comfort in Warm Humid Climate for Traditional Architecture in Indonesia,” KnE Soc. Sci., vol. 2019, pp. 151–166, 2019, doi: 10.18502/kss.v3i21.4965.
[71] M. H. Jahangir, M. Ziyaei, and A. Kargarzadeh, “Evaluation of thermal behavior and life cycle cost analysis of greenhouses with bio-phase change materials in multiple locations,” J. Energy Storage, vol. 54, p. 105176, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105176.
[72] A. Liu, H. Xie, Z. Wu, and Y. Wang, “Advances and outlook of TE-PCM system: a review,” Carbon Neutrality, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1–35, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s43979-022-00018-4.
[73] R. Jacob, W. Saman, M. Belusko, and F. Bruno, “Techno-Economic Analysis of Phase Change Material Thermal Energy Storage Systems in High Temperature Concentrated Solar Power Plants,” Asia-Pacific Sol. Res. Conf., 2014, [Online]. Available: http://apvi.org.au/solar-research-conference/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/6-R-Jacob_peer_reviewed.pdf
[74] H. Gbran, “From Physical Models to Innovations: Technology Advances in Architectural and Civil Engineering,” Arsitektura, vol. 22, no. 1, p. 91, 2024, doi: 10.20961/arst.v22i1.81909.
[75] H. Togun et al., “Development and innovation using PCM in PV cooling systems: passive and active approaches,” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s10973-025-14388-1.
[76] S. H. Lee, M. Liu, and W. Saman, “Selection of the melting temperature of phase change materials considering local climate,” WIT Trans. Ecol. Environ., vol. 224, no. 1, pp. 519–530, 2017, doi: 10.2495/ESUS170481.
[77] J. Hun Park, S. Wi, J. Lee, B. Yeol Yun, S. Yang, and S. Kim, “Manufacture of optimized PCM within thermal comfort range to improve building energy performance,” IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., vol. 609, no. 4, 2019, doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/609/4/042019.
[78] P. Byrne et al., “Design of a Solar AC System Including a PCM Storage for Sustainable Resorts in Tropical Region,” Evergreen, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 143–148, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.5109/2321009.
[79] B. M. Gilbert F. S., Y. LATIEF, and B. D. KUSSUMARDIANADEWI, “Identification of Green Retrofitting Procurement and Permitting Processes in High-rise Office Buildings in Jakarta Based on PerMen PUPR No.21 Year 2021 and GBC Indonesia that Affects Project Time Performance.,” Researcher, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 15–28, 2024, doi: 10.55185/researcher.1405184.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.