Simulation-based optimization of energy performance with focus on sustainable building services engineering

The aim of this study is to compare and validate a building energy simulation model of a university building with monitored data. In addition, different building services engineering concepts are compared with each other regarding their ecological life cycle-based performance using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods. Optimizing these performances regarding sustainability indicators plays an essential role in realizing a climate-neutral building stock. A university building from the 90s, which consists of almost 900 thermal zones, is used as a case study. Detailed heating consumption data are available for the inspected building and are compared to the simulation results. Different energy supply concepts are first subjected to conducting LCA and then to a detailed energy performance simulation. This paper presents a procedure that enables decision-makers to examine building services engineering issues and to derive conclusions in a time-saving manner regarding appropriate sustainable actions. The focus on sustainable energy supply systems is an essential milestone for the realization of climate-neutral building stocks. The scientific innovation is in the detailed reproduction of the existing building and the comparison between simulation data and real-time data as well as an innovative and experimental approach to building and Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system simulation.

Transcending disciplines in architecture, structural and building services engineering: a new multidisciplinary educational approach

This paper reflects upon the mechanisms that enable development of curricular approaches to multidisciplinary architecture/engineering higher education. Building upon recent calls for integrated multidisciplinary building design practice, academics at UCL, industry partners and respective professional bodies embarked upon developing a new course that challenged disciplinary boundaries and defined the needs of a new design professional. Whilst there have been attempts internationally to better integrate architecture as well as engineering education, efforts have largely been focused on bolt-on solutions based on pre-existing education programmes. In addition, there has been little discussion (empirical or theoretical) on practical measures associated with developing multidisciplinary education in the built environment. Drawing on mixed data including documentary evidence, semi structured interviews and observations, the study begins to shed light on the approaches underpinning the development of a multidisciplinary built environment MEng course at UCL that integrates architecture, building services and civil engineering. The paper’s contribution is threefold. First, the findings have implications for developing multidisciplinary built environment education curricula, through revealing key mechanisms including the need for shared attitudes and expectations. Second, the paper highlights the conditions that enable the negotiation of multidisciplinary curricula including institutional support, shared values and a collective need and willingness to explore new solutions. Third, the paper reflects upon the value of design studio learning as a critical integrative component to the delivery of multidisciplinary education in the built environment and STEM more widely.

Building information modelling for building services engineering: benefits, barriers and conducive measures

PurposeMandating the use of building information modelling (BIM) in building projects has sprawled, but the uptake of BIM in building services engineering (BSE) remains sluggish. The purpose of this paper is to explore how to achieve wider adoption of BIM in BSE.Design/methodology/approachThrough an extensive literature review, the benefits of, barriers to and measures conducive to, using BIM for BSE were identified and classified. Built upon the review and a focus group meeting, a questionnaire was devised for an industry-wide survey in Hong Kong and the survey data were processed by statistical analyses.FindingsOn the ranking of the benefits, strong agreements existed between the BSE and non-BSE respondent groups; yet no significant agreement was found between the two groups on the rankings of the barriers or the conducive measures. The top conducive measure, according to the BSE group, is “Allow enough time in project programme for BIM model development”.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collection and analysis methods of this study may be used for similar BIM studies in other places.Practical implicationsThe priority of the conducive measures, which aid policy or decision makers in formulating how to get BIM effectively implemented in BSE, are useful information in the pursuit of a more productive and sustainable built environment.Originality/valueThis BIM study is specifically on BSE rather than the other disciplines (e.g. architecture, structural engineering) that have been widely studied.

Climate change and building technologies: investigations of future weather scenarios on building energy performance

This paper aims to investigate the impact of future climate on building systems, taking account of a strict building standard. A building is modelled in TRNSYS regarding a sustainable heating and cooling energy production by solar heating and radiative cooling in combination with water storage tanks. Sensitivity analyses (Morris Method) are performed for the technical building configurations for the years 2030, 2050 and 2100 (REMO climate model). They are compared and evaluated with the current reference climate (TRY) of 2017. The objective is to show which components have a significant influence on the energy consumption of buildings. Furthermore, due to the climate change sustainable building technologies are necessary. This paper demonstrates how the influence of the climate can be counteracted from the perspective of building services. Global warming requires a rethink of the interaction between building design, building technologies and climate. In this point building services engineering offers the most flexibility. By performing parameter studies, early knowledge about the building and its required technology can be gained. The target value of this study is the indoor air temperature as a function of the outdoor temperature. The objective function corresponds to specifications according to the European standard EN 15251. Following the parameter studies, optimization processes are carried out.