IBPSA2009

The goal of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the Portuguese thermal regulation simplified methodology for existing buildings and to assess the influence of different parameters on the building final energy performance evaluation. Simple “in-situ” measurement techniques were carried out to calibrate the input data in this methodology. The results obtained with the simplified methodology, with and without the input data calibration, were compared with the results obtained with the detailed methodology and it was concluded that the “in-situ” calibration could contribute to improve the

The general practice for establishing the consumption in asset ratings of a building consists of entrusting the energy analysis of the shell of a building to calculating software. The building is the subject of an extremely complicated analysis, and there are many variables at stake, is it more correct to aim for a simplification of the problem, in the knowledge that behind every analytical formula there is the possibility of an evaluation error, or is it better to aim for calculation models that are more and more detailed in an attempt to succeed in predicting the real energy behaviour of 

To address the functional complexities and volumetric variability found in the UK non-domestic building stock (Pérez-Lombard et al, 2008, Bruhns, 2008), the methodology for demonstrating compliance with energy performance criteria outlined in Approved Document Part L2A (ADL2A) allows the use of a variety of accredited simulation tools. This paper reports on the interim results of an intermodel comparative study that aims to investigate potential variability in results generated by the range of accredited tools available at the time of writing. An overview of the applicability limitations of

As part of the UK government Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) initiative, the requirement of Asset and Operational Ratings for buildings since 2008 meant that software packages have recently been made available commercially to carry out calculations and produce the relevant documents.

Based on almost seven years of continuous measurements we have analysed in detail the influence of occupancy patterns, indoor temperature and outdoor climate parameters (temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity and rainfall) on window opening and closing behaviour. This paper presents the development and testing of several modelling approaches, including logistic probability distributions, Markov chains and continuous-time random processes.

This paper presents the results of a recent study of people's presence and their interactions with the buildings' environmental systems in a number of buildings in Austria. The intention was to observe user control actions pertaining to building systems while considering the indoor and outdoor environmental conditions under which those actions occurred. The results of this study suggest that such interactions are difficult to predict at the level of an individual person.

Based on six years of continuous measurements, we have analysed in detail the occupancy, thermal and visual parameters influencing blind usage behaviour. This paper begins by presenting some of the key findings from these analyses. Informed by other developments in the literature, we go on to propose an approach for a comprehensive stochastic model for simulating blind usage.

This paper describes a new methodology in calculating accurately the time series utility loads (energy, power, city water, hot water, etc.) in a dwelling. This calculation takes into account the behavioral variations of the dwelling inhabitants. The proposed method contains a procedure for cooling load calculations based on a series of Monte Carlo simulations where the HVAC on/off state and the indoor heat generation schedules are varied, time-step by time-step.

The integration of techniques for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in building performance simulation (BPS) has a number of potential benefits  related to design. It allows assessing the accuracy of performance predictions; it can be used to provide concept specific design guidance, and it enables a robustness assessment of the design proposal to different future climate scenarios. The later is considered here.

Climate Modelling is a complex task. One of the most important reasons is the presence of a large variety of spatio-temporal scales. There are climatic changes that take place over a time period of a few months and then there are gusts which might last only a few seconds.