IBPSA2005

This paper describes a case study to estimate the time and effort needed by novice designers to computationally evaluate the performance of building designs. A group of senior architecture students participated in the study, learning and using a software application to assess the energy performance of six project submissions for a school building design competition.

This paper deals with the dynamical modelling of a solar evacuated tube collector under variable weather conditions. After describing the mathematical model, the paper presents elements of validation. In a first step, the theorical model is validated against the experimental results. Then a parametric sensitivity analysis is applied to the model. Such a study is very interesting for modellers in order to determine the relative importance and the nature of the effect of the parameters. It is important so as to improve the model by controlling this paramaters or accurately measuring it. 

The objective of this paper is to examine different means of producing domestic hot water (DHW) in Zero net energy homes (ZNEH). Four alternatives are examined : i) a regular electric hot water tank; ii) the desuperheater of a ground-source heat pump with electric backup; iii) thermal solar collectors with electric backup; iv) a heat pump water heater (HPWH) indirectly coupled to a space conditioning ground-source heat pump. Energy simulations, using TRNSYS as the simulation engine, are performed to evaluate each alternative.

An efficient urban energy system could be a highly diverse and well-integrated structure of buildings and systems. Such a structure needs an energy management framework capable of providing information on appropriate energy saving measures at any scale of implementation. This paper proposes a method to design such a framework. For quality assurance, a method to deal with the uncertainty in building properties and in operational conditions of buildings and systems is designed into the framework in order to model the energy use during the operation phase of buildings. 

The evaluation and analysis of available simulation tools suggests a thorough research methodology for creating a new front-end interface that solves current usage problems. This research is limited to the interface design of the new front-end which is named Integrated Building Design Information Interface. Criteria for the new front-end interface enable the development of a series of mock-up interface designs that are responsive to the needs of architects. A working graphical user interface of the building information prototype is created and is then put through an empirical user testing.

For a quick and reliable energy evaluation of houses, one needs simple energy analysis software. A key requirement for simplified inputs is to have default data for house geometry, thermal and equipment characteristics based on vintage, type and region in which the house is located. Representative numerical approaches were applied to develop archetype house characteristics using the data gathered from various surveys of housing stock in Canada.

Regression equations can be used for predicting temperature and relative humidity in single-zone buildings. This paper presents a methodology for computing the parameters of such kind of models based on weather data and room air hygrotermal conditions. In addition, the computed model can be very effective on the synthesis of advanced controllers applied to HVAC systems.

Presence of volatile organic compounds in indoor air affects human health. Throat and eye irritation together with headache and weakness are symptoms related to volatile organic compounds. Hundreds of these compounds are normally present in indoor air. This paper presents a numerical simulation tool which is developed with the purpose to assess the concentration of volatile organic compounds in indoor air, taking into account the presence of building materials, furniture, appliances, and ventilation systems.

The requirements for a scaleable energy model for the UK non-domestic building stock are described.. The non-domestic stock is much more heterogeneous than the domestic stock. The model needs to be scaleable from a single building, to a community or regional level. Approaches to using a small number of key inputs are described, using inference to combine empirical models, with building physics such as heat loss in a hybrid approach. Varying levels of information should be accommodated. Such models can be used to identify the most effective measures for reducing carbon emissions. 

Application of EESLISM for the energy and environmental control system design in the example building is described. Examples of the combined systems of building thermal performance and mechanical heating and cooling are the solar heating system, the heat storage type air conditioning system, the ventilation cooling systems, etc. The simulation models for a single family house and an office building are described.