Building simulation in practice the portuguese experience

The use of simulation as a tool for assessing building thermal performance is a powerful technique but contains certain difficulties, which limit very much its application and even its dissemination. In this paper, some of the Portuguese experiences of building simulation are presented and discussed, focusing on a large simulation exercise. The different strategies and decisions taken by the modeller during the process and their consequences, are discussed for this particular case. A more general discussion on the simplification of the simulation process is put forward having in mind the issues facing the application of simulation in practice, and the need to retain the quality in the results.