A simplified procedure is described, to model daylighting, cooling, and heating impacts of vertical glazing in commercial buildings. Both annual and peak impacts are calculated, as well as cooling-equipment -sizing impacts. Simple economic analyses (present worth and simple payback) are included. The name BEEM is used, for Building Energy Estimation Module. The public domain procedure is implemented in spread-sheet software, available at nominal charge for materials and handling.

In this paper, we want to show an application of fuzzy control to building thermal regulation. Thanks to a new learning method, inspired from connexionnist techniques, the controller learns to identify the rules it must use, either without any previous knowledge, or with approximative rules. This method is tested in simulation on a thermal regulation problem and is compared to a discrete time PI controller.

This paper describes the objectives of International Energy Agency (IEA) Annex 21 and the ongoing work of Subtask B which deals with how programs should be used for particular applications. Well documented procedures for using programs need to be developed to fulfill a real need by increasing consistency of performance assessment, aiding in training, allowing improvement of procedures and promoting quality assurance. The emphasis in this work is on how programs are applied, so that the programs are taken as 'given'.

The simulation of the transient behaviour of buildings is becoming more important as faster and cheaper computers reach the market. Many simulation programs and specialized tools have been developed to simulate complex situations. With growing problem complexity the simulation programs have to provide more user support and more advanced models. Ibis is usually solved by writing tailored application programs using specialized solution methods and menus or window interfaces. The results are efficient tools for the end user.

Fast accurate micro-computer simulations of the thermal, lighting, and energy performance of buildings offers the promise of informing architects' design decision-making. Yet this promise has only been partially realized, probably because of the mismatch between the way humans and computers communicate information. The full potential of microcomputer design tools depends on finding more effective ways for architects and computers to exchange information in a graphic or visual mode.

This paper discusses recent efforts to develop an intelligent front end (IFE) for a building energy simulation model using a readily available expert system shell. Currently a number of dependable energy simulation models exist for the energy assessment of buildings. However, use of these simulation models involves one problem with respect to the data input process. Usually, detailed building energy simulation models require somewhat rigorous input information from users regardless of the design stage or application domain.

This paper presents a new, improved method for designing radiant panel heating systems using accepted thermal comfort criteria, mean radiant temperature, and radiant asymmetry as bases for decision making. Peak design loads are calculated for radiant panel heating systems and convection heating systems in rooms with cold radiative interior spaces. An evaluative comparison of traditional methods and the new design method is also presented here.

Courseware is educational software, designed to create an instructional environment, for the purpose of facilitating learning. Courseware is being developed to support training in a wide range of engineering disciplines, including Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) design. It is anticipated that courseware will be used much more, to support current training practices in HVAC design, in order to make training more effective, efficient, and accessible. Current practices in courseware design indicate very few courseware products are designed using formal methods.

The approach adopted by the Gaz de France Research Center for the modelling-simulation of building performance separates as far as possible modelling from simulation. Emphasis is placed on modelling and its validation. In the proposed approach, a model library in the form of PROFORMA forms is set up. Its aim is to provide researchers with a set of models characterized, in particular, by their state of validation. The engineer selects the models and the simulation tool he needs in order to obtain the numerical results corresponding to the objectives of his study.

A first order correction to uni-directional heat transfer is proposed, so that multi-dimensional heat transfer effects can be accounted for with only a moderate increase in storage and CPU timerequirements. The model has been implemented into the ESP building energy simulation program and is shown to be able to predict the order of magnitude of changes due to corner effects and therml bridges.These effects are shown to be non-negligible even in full scale buildings, especially if one isinterested in an accurate prediction of internal surface temperatures.