English

This paper describes the use of optical recognition technologies to augment the physical design space and its aesthetic drivers with a myriad of design performance variables available through advanced environmental analysis simulations to create an integrated and collaborative high-performance design platform. By utilizing various hardware and software systems, this design platform can capture critical physical information to be translated into a 3D digital environment where the digital model can be interpreted and various analysis information can be extracted.

This paper evaluates the influence of windows in thermal energy performance of a social interest bulding in Dunas District - Pelotas/RS,  analizing the performance for heating and cooling over the year. The original design was modeled and analized through the energy efficiency software “Design Builder” (v:2.3.5.036), considering different sizes of window openings - 12.5%, 20% and 45% of the floor area - and three types of sun protection - blinds, shutters and brises-soleil. The changes made in the sizes of the windows and in the type of sunscreens didn’t affect significantly the thermal-ene

The optimal building management models require predicting the behaviour of building systems. To achieve this goal, we propose to make available on the web remote computing services for the composition, simulation and optimization of equipments. A paradigm shift is necessary in order to fulfil this goal. We show in this study that models can be embedded in software components and made available on the web without any special programming skills.

The aim of this study is to establish the suitability of using existing net zero energy building (Net ZEB) solution sets to redesign Net ZEBs being moved into different climates. A case study was performed using the ENERPOS Building, located in Saint-Pierre, Reunion Island (cooling dominated climate), and moved to Christchurch, New Zealand (mixed heating and cooling climate).

Computational building performance simulation can be employed to develop various future solutions. The development of Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (VNLS), which are systems that artificially provide natural lighting and view comparable to those of real windows and skylights, is steered by modelling them as arrays of small light sources resembling a simplified view of a blue sky and green ground. The lighting simulation tool Radiance is employed to predict the space availability, uniformity, ground light contribution on the ceiling, and probability of discomfort glare.

A type of a radiant system that uses the building concrete structure as energy storage, Thermally Activated Building System, is an energy efficient system, which utilizes the time-delay effect. Although the time-delay effect of the Thermally Activated Building System may be beneficial for the use of energy storage, it may also cause difficulties while controlling the system. When the system is not controlled properly, overheating and overcooling statement in the room and condensation on the surface may occur.

We propose a methodology for determining internal heat gains in workspace for peak cooling/heating load calculations. First, we collected measurement data of the lighting and plug loads in workspaces in Japan and analyzed these data. The investigation results show that internal heat gains remain relatively flat during work hours for each space, but their magnitudes vary considerably from space to space. Time-averaged heat gains during work hours conform to a lognormal distribution if those spaces are approximately the same size in floor area.