Thermal Load Predictions in Low-Energy Buildings: A Hybrid AI-Based Approach Integrating Integral Feature Selection and Machine Learning Models

A hybrid Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework centered on metamodeling, integrating simulation data with hybrid data-driven techniques, was implemented to enhance the predictive accuracy and optimization of thermal load projections in three distinct climates in Morocco. Initially, 13 machine learning (ML) models were assessed to predict heating and cooling loads. The best-performing models from this stage were then selected for the subsequent phase to find out the optimal combinations of inputs to predict thermal loads. In this phase, an Integral Feature Selection (IFS) method was employed in conjunction with the best ML models. An extensive evaluation using advanced statistical measures was performed during the evaluation stage. The results reveal that, for each climate, numerous high-accuracy prediction pathways were identified for thermal load prediction, surpassing the confidence level of 99% for R2. The results found here outperformed those reported by other researchers in thermal load predictions for Low-Energy Buildings (LEBs).