scholarly journals Assigning Robust Default Values in Building Performance Simulation Software for Improved Decision-Making in the Initial Stages of Building Design

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyosuke Hiyama
Keyword(s):  
Design Patterns ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Convincing Argument ◽  
The Ideal

Applying data mining techniques on a database of BIM models could provide valuable insights in key design patterns implicitly present in these BIM models. The architectural designer would then be able to use previous data from existing building projects as default values in building performance simulation software for the early phases of building design. The author has proposed the method to minimize the magnitude of the variation in these default values in subsequent design stages. This approach maintains the accuracy of the simulation results in the initial stages of building design. In this study, a more convincing argument is presented to demonstrate the significance of the new method. The variation in the ideal default values for different building design conditions is assessed first. Next, the influence of each condition on these variations is investigated. The space depth is found to have a large impact on the ideal default value of the window to wall ratio. In addition, the presence or absence of lighting control and natural ventilation has a significant influence on the ideal default value. These effects can be used to identify the types of building conditions that should be considered to determine the ideal default values.

Energy efficient design optimization of a bioclimatic house

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Boukli Hacene ◽  
NE Chabane Sari
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Efficient Design ◽  
Global Energy ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Performance Simulation

The global energy context of the year 2018 makes us pessimistic about the future. The geopolitical, environmental and socio-economic aspects are linked to the political tensions of countries that hold and manipulate the global energy market. These countries are haunted by the population growth, the depletion of fossil resources and the global economic crisis. Each country is trying to find reasonable solutions to deal with this crisis. Unfortunately, these solutions always have direct negative repercussions on the population and on the environment. In this paper we present a case study developed in Algeria and inspired by the current and critical socio-economic situation of the country, in particular, the application of energy-saving techniques to an existing building. The investigation was conducted by using both simulation software and real interventions. We analyse some of the major components, such as building’s orientation and exposure to daylight which have significant impact on energy consumption. We present the concept of Building Performance Simulation Analysis, using Autodesk ECOTECT Analysis and COMSOL Multiphysics software, and give full consideration to various ecological energy-saving methods. Using our models, we present a possible solution for retrofitting a building to minimize its energy consumption. The results are useful for both building energy conversation and creating a comfortable living environment in future.

scholarly journals Balancing daylight and overheating in low-energy design using CIBSE improved weather files

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Brembilla ◽  
Christina J Hopfe ◽  
John Mardaljevic ◽  
Anastasia Mylona ◽  
Eirini Mantesi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Radiation Model ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Irradiance Data ◽  
Solar Radiation Model

A new set of CIBSE weather files for building performance simulation was recently developed to address the need for better quality solar data. These are essential for most building performance simulation applications, particularly for daylighting studies and low-energy building design, which requires detailed irradiation data for passive solar design and overheating risk analysis. The reliability of weather data becomes paramount when building performance is pushed to its limits. Findings illustrate how principles of good window design can be applied to a case study building, built to the Passivhaus standard, and how its expected performance is affected by the quality of solar irradiation data. Analyses using test reference years were most affected by changes in the solar radiation model (up to 8.3% points), whereas for design summer years the maximum difference was 1.7% points. Adopting the new model caused overheating risk to be classified as more severe using test reference years than design summer years, prompting a discussion on the design summer year selection method. Irradiance data measured on-site were used as a benchmark to evaluate the new solar radiation model, which was found to significantly improve the accuracy of irradiance data within weather files and so the reliability of overheating assessments. Practical application: CIBSE weather files are widely used for compliance verification of building performance in the UK context. This paper tests how the introduction of a new solar radiation model in weather files will affect daylighting and overheating simulation results. Examples are given on how low-energy building design considerations driven by advanced simulation techniques can help reaching indoor visual and thermal comfort requirements.

scholarly journals Building Retrofit to Improve Energy Performance from Office to Accommodation. Case study: Tower Building, Nottingham, UK

2018 ◽  
Vol 206 ◽  
pp. 02010
Author(s):  
Nissa Aulia Ardiani ◽  
Suhendri ◽  
Mochamad Donny Koerniawan ◽  
Rachmawan Budiarto
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Current Function ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Retrofit ◽  
Double Skin

Designed in Brutalism style by architect Andrew Renton, Tower Building has 17 floors for academic and lecturers’ office function. As the highest point in University of Nottingham, this tower has been built for almost five decades. The aim of this project is to propose the tower retrofit from current function to accommodation purpose. Improvement in terms of function and building energy performance by applying sustainable building technologies are the objectives of the retrofit. The advanced plan of building retrofit was proposed after assessing the current building performance and determined the problems. The proposed building design was based on building performance simulation result, literature, and precedent studies. Thereafter, several technologies and design ideas were applied for further investigation, to examine how is the strategies works in the building retrofit. Integrated double skin façade with BIPV, bio composite material for internal wall, double low-e glass for external wall, as well as green lung to improve natural ventilation and create public space were proposed for the building.

scholarly journals Using artificial neural network and WebGL to algorithmically optimize window wall ratios of high-rise office buildings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenghuan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Design Projects ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Simulation Engines

Abstract By coupling parametric modeling, building performance simulation engines, and optimization algorithms, optimal design choices regarding predefined building performance objectives can be automatically obtained. This becomes an emerging research topic among scholars in the fields of architecture and built environment. However, it is not easy to apply this method to real building design projects, because of two main drawbacks: Building performance simulation is too time consuming, and the numerical visualization of final results is not intuitive for architects to make decisions. Therefore, this study tries to fill these two gaps by training an artificial neural network to replace simulation engines and developing a web application to speed up the 3D visualization of selected design choices. These two strategies are applied to optimize office towers’ window wall ratios in Hangzhou, China. Architects working on new design projects in that city can obtain the optimal group of window wall ratios for four facades in 2 s, faster than using simulation engines, which cost architects 2 weeks. Moreover, architects can also efficiently observe the appearance of design solutions with the web application. By improving its usability from these two aspects, this study significantly improves the applicability of algorithmic optimization for building design projects.

scholarly journals Strengths and Weaknesses of Existing Building Green Retrofits: Case Study of a LEED EBOM Gold Project

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaonuan Sun ◽  
Zhonghua Gou ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Yiqi Tao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Saving ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Energy Auditing ◽  
Operations And Maintenance

This study investigated the process of existing building green retrofits through examining a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (LEED EBOM) Gold project. The project demonstrated a standard green retrofit process for existing buildings, which includes energy auditing, building performance simulation, and measurement and verification. In this project, four energy conservation measures were applied to improve energy performance: light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, window films, green roofs, and chilled water plant upgrading and optimization. The expected energy saving was 30% after the retrofit; while the actual energy saving was 16%. The error of building performance simulation was one of uncertainties in this retrofit project. Occupancy conditions might be the main reason for this uncertainty. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified and discussed for the green retrofit. The research results could be used to optimize the existing building retrofit process for better energy performance.

scholarly journals Building energy performance assessment for existing commercial buildings with heritage values

2019 ◽  
Vol 277 ◽  
pp. 03018
Author(s):  
James Pow Chew Wong
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance Simulation

The building sector accounts for 19% of Australia's energy consumption and around 23% of the greenhouse gas emissions. In 2005, commercial buildings in Australia were responsible for 10% or 26 megatonnes (Mt) of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. They are two effective ways to reduce the building sector's emissions, namely constructing new energy efficient buildings or retrofitting existing buildings. Due to the life expectancy of existing building stock the greatest reduction in emissions before 2030 could be achieved through retrofits. Building performance assessment and evaluation uses predictive modelling method to investigate and evaluate building performance in energy demands, thermal occupant comfort, indoor air quality, building retrofit options and many other related environmental and wellbeing aspects. This paper discussed the use of building performance simulation software to investigate the impacts of various retrofit options have onto energy performance of existing commercial buildings with heritage values in Australia. The research explores the use of thermal and airflow modelling in assisting understanding of building energy performance with various retrofit options applied to existing commercial buildings. The finding highlights the capabilities of building performance simulation software in decision making for building performance investigations.

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