This paper discusses the modification and testing of an existing dynamic thermal model to include the calculation of the effects of glazing and shading options such as slatted blinds. It discusses the selection and development of algorithms, the testing of component sub-models against detailed models, and provides comparisons against theoretical and measured benchmarks. The modified model is found capable of predicting total solar transmission of glazing with mid-pane shading combinations, expressed as a G-value, to ±0.04.
This paper investigates the robustness of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) search method in solving an unconstrained building optimization problem, when the number of building simulations used by the optimization is restricted. GA search methods can be classified as being probabilistic populations based optimizers. The probabilistic nature of the search suggests that GA’s may lack robustness in finding solutions.
This paper explores means for more effectively exploiting daylight in buildings through extending periods of illumination free of glare problems. The key concept is to quantify and examine the impact of selected design parameters, e.g. light shelves, on the admission of daylight within buildings. The University of Calgary’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) office building is used as a base model, whereas innovative techniques are developed and presented in this study.
This article aims at a better understanding of how decisions are taken to improve energy performance of office buildings in warm climates and why energy tools are not popular among the architects. A survey was developed based on theory of designer's thinking and activities. Most of the survey consists of statements that can be weighted on a scale of 1 to 5, during specific stages of design: pre-design, sketch and detail phases.
Calculating the dynamic effects of surface overshadowing is a major part of most thermal analysis engines. It also represents a significant overhead in the analysis process yet, once a run is complete, this information is usually lost and must be entirely recalculated before the next run. However, detailed overshadowing for specific surfaces is valuable information to the designer.
The Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR) scheme is a performance-based rating for office buildings. While it was originally designed for existing buildings, its success in that sector has led to its rapid adoption as a performance standard for new buildings. As a result of this application, there has been an upsurge in the use of simulation as a predictor of absolute performance.
This paper describes a new data set appropriate for empirical validation of whole-building energy simulation software. The data has been created using artificial and natural climate configurations in the empirically characterized ETNA (Essais Thermiques en climat Naturel et Artificiel) test cells of an electric utility in France. This data set includes parametric variations based on the Building Energy Simulation Test and Diagnostic Method (BESTEST) comparative test methodology developed at a national laboratory in the United States
This paper discusses an experience of teaching building simulation to students in a small class of a Masters program in an architecture school. This was a course in assessing building performance using an hourly thermal simulation program. Students were required to use the program to assess the comfort and energy performance of the building they were designing.
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