Formulating a building climate classification method

Research experts participating in the International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 40 project on Net Zero Energy Buildings (Net ZEB) were asked to classify their countries climate. Six of the participating countries researchers categorised the residential and non-residential buildings, placed in the same location, into different climate zones. This indicated that a climate zoning for buildings that is based purely on the external climate conditions is not sufficient. This paper proposes an adjustment of the traditional approach to climate classification for buildings by utilising thermal simulation to formulate a building climate classification. This produces a climate indicator that is founded on the locations external conditions and a reference building‘s thermal performance.