Investigation of the correlation of building energy use intensity estimated by six building performance simulation tools

This paper presents a building performance simulation-based investigation to better understand the energy and comfort performance benefits of early detection of common sensor and actuator faults. Five types of air-handling unit faults and four types of zone-level faults were implemented to the energy management system application of the building performance simulation tool EnergyPlus. During 50-year simulation periods, the faults were randomly permitted to affect 75 different components of an archetype medium-sized office building model. The sensitivity of the simulation results with respect to three variables was studied: fault recurrence period, fault repair period, and discomfort threshold for simulated complaints. The results indicate that the energy use intensity and the predicted percentage of dissatisfied exhibit a power–law relationship with time, in which most of the performance reductions occur in the first 10 years. If the work-orders are issued only upon occupant complaints, the faults were estimated to cause a 16–62% increase in the energy use intensity for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning and a 11–38% increase in the predicted percentage of dissatisfied at the end of the 50-year simulation periods. The results indicate that if the faults can be detected within a month after their first appearance, almost all their detrimental effects on a building’s energy and comfort performance can be mitigated. Practical application: The methodology and results presented in this article are of practical use for those who study on-going commissioning, fault detection and diagnostics, and energy management systems in buildings. The simulation-based parametric analysis approach can be used to estimate the range of energy and comfort savings expected through early detection of common sensor and actuator faults in commercial buildings. Insights gathered from such an analysis can be used in planning the frequency of retro-commissioning and investments for automated fault detection and diagnostics systems.

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The Relationship between the Use of Building Performance Simulation Tools by Recent Graduate Architects and the Deficiencies in Architectural Education

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13051134 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1134 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin ◽

José-Manuel del-Río ◽

Fernando del Ama Gonzalo ◽

Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano

Keyword(s):

University Education ◽

Design Stage ◽

Building Performance ◽

Performance Simulation ◽

Building Performance Simulation ◽

Simulation Tools ◽

Recent Graduate ◽

Training Courses ◽

Spanish Universities ◽

University Training

This paper examines the actual knowledge regarding Building Performance Simulation Tools (BPSTs) of recent graduate architects in Spain. BPSTs quantify aspects of building performance that are relevant to design, construction, and operation. Recent graduate architects are those who have been awarded a first degree from a university or college and face their first professional experience. This article aims to identify the deficiencies within the current curricula of Spanish universities relating to BPSTs. The authors have surveyed 171 recent graduate architects, and the analysis of the data reveals the deficiencies in university education. Regarding the collected results, the Spanish university syllabi must undergo necessary modifications to encourage the use of simulation as a part of university training courses. The incorporation of energy simulation in such training courses can provide recent graduate architects with tools that would assist them during the design stage. The use of these tools is key in the development of innovative pedagogy-based teaching materials for the courses. In this sense, the present work aims to delve into the usage deficiencies associated with BPSTs and propose ways in which to bridge the gap between higher education and first professional experiences.

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Impact of Typical Faults Occurring in Demand-controlled Ventilation on Energy and Indoor Environment in a Nordic Climate

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202017209006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 172 ◽

pp. 09006

Author(s):

Kamilla Heimar Andersen ◽

Sverre B. Holøs ◽

Aileen Yang ◽

Kari Thunshelle ◽

Øystein Fjellheim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Indoor Environment ◽

Energy Use ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Building Performance ◽

Local Approach ◽

Performance Simulation ◽

Building Performance Simulation ◽

Controlled Ventilation ◽

Demand Controlled Ventilation ◽

The Impact

This study evaluates typical faults occurring in demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system and the impact on three output results: energy use, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality. The methodologies used in this study were qualitative interviews of selected Norwegian Heating Ventilation Air Condition (HVAC) system experts and numerical modeling using the building performance simulation tool IDA ICE. The faults deduced from the qualitative interviews were modeled as the fault's different consequences to account for a large variety of faults. With a Norwegian school classroom as a case study, a local approach applying a one-at-a-time (OAT) simulation was used to perform an analysis of the extreme fault conditions that can occur. The results from the fault modeling demonstrated that greater attention is needed to avoid faults in the HVAC systems due to its impact on the indoor environment quality and energy efficiency of buildings.

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