Editorial

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Open AccessEditorial

Building Performance Analysis and Simulation: We’ve Come a Long Way

by V. Ismet Ugursal

Buildings 2014, 4(4), 762-763; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4040762 - 17 Oct 2014

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3928

Back in 1981, when I started doing building energy performance simulation for pre-design and energy efficiency retrofit work, building simulation was in its infancy. There were only a handful of building energy simulation programs, with DOE-2, ESP-II, BLAST, TRACE and MERIWHETHER being the [...] Read more.

Back in 1981, when I started doing building energy performance simulation for pre-design and energy efficiency retrofit work, building simulation was in its infancy. There were only a handful of building energy simulation programs, with DOE-2, ESP-II, BLAST, TRACE and MERIWHETHER being the most commonly used ones by consultants [1]. These programs required "mainframe" computers, so I used to prepare the input files on a Radio Shack TRS-80, send it over a telephone modem to a company in Toronto that ran the simulation on a mainframe computer overnight and shipped the printed output to me by courier in the morning. Each run had a turn-around time of almost 48 h, and the run-time and courier charges were about $100, almost as much as a day's salary for a young engineer. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

Research

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532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Parameters Influencing the Moisture Buffering Potential of Hygroscopic Materials with BSim Simulations

by Xiangjin Yang, Hua Ge, Paul Fazio and Jiwu Rao

Buildings 2014, 4(3), 375-393; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4030375 - 23 Jul 2014

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5491

Abstract

Validated by a large-scale experimental investigation on moisture buffering (MB) effect, a whole building Heat, Air and Moisture (HAM) simulation tool, BSim, is applied to evaluate the impact of a number of parameters on the moisture buffering potential of a full-scale test room [...] Read more.

Validated by a large-scale experimental investigation on moisture buffering (MB) effect, a whole building Heat, Air and Moisture (HAM) simulation tool, BSim, is applied to evaluate the impact of a number of parameters on the moisture buffering potential of a full-scale test room finished with hygroscopic materials. The Maximum Accumulated Moisture Buffering Value (MAMBV), developed from the moisture balance analyses in the experimental study, is used in the BSim simulation result analyses to evaluate the impact of various parameters. The parameters investigated include ventilation rates (0.5–5 ACH), types of materials (uncoated gypsum board, wood paneling, orientated strand board, aerated cellular concrete, and telephone book paper), humidity conditions of supply air, volume rates, and steady-state outdoor conditions. It is found that all these parameters have a significant impact on the moisture buffering potential except for the steady-state outdoor conditions. Two material properties, the moisture capacity and vapor permeability, determine the moisture buffering capacities of materials under different moisture generation regimes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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4556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Analyses of New Massive Wooden Shear-Wall Systems

by Luca Pozza, Roberto Scotta, Davide Trutalli, Mario Pinna, Andrea Polastri and Paolo Bertoni

Buildings 2014, 4(3), 355-374; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4030355 - 14 Jul 2014

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8655

Abstract

Three innovative massive wooden shear-wall systems (Cross-Laminated-Glued Wall, Cross-Laminated-Stapled Wall, Layered Wall with dovetail inserts) were tested and their structural behaviour under seismic action was assessed with numerical simulations. The wall specimens differ mainly in the method used to assemble the layers of [...] Read more.

Three innovative massive wooden shear-wall systems (Cross-Laminated-Glued Wall, Cross-Laminated-Stapled Wall, Layered Wall with dovetail inserts) were tested and their structural behaviour under seismic action was assessed with numerical simulations. The wall specimens differ mainly in the method used to assemble the layers of timber boards composing them. Quasi-static cyclic loading tests were carried out and then reproduced with a non-linear numerical model calibrated on the test results to estimate the most appropriate behaviour factor for each system. Non-linear dynamic simulations of 15 artificially generated seismic shocks showed that these systems have good dissipative capacity when correctly designed and that they can be assigned to the medium ductility class of Eurocode 8. This work also shows the influence of deformations in wooden panels and base connectors on the behaviour factor and dissipative capacity of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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1702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Building Aspect Ratio on Energy Efficiency: A Case Study for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings in Canada

by Philip McKeen and Alan S. Fung

Buildings 2014, 4(3), 336-354; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4030336 - 09 Jul 2014

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 20114

Abstract

This paper examines the energy consumption of varying aspect ratio in multi-unit residential buildings in Canadian cities. The aspect ratio of a building is one of the most important determinants of energy efficiency. It defines the building surface area by which heat is [...] Read more.

This paper examines the energy consumption of varying aspect ratio in multi-unit residential buildings in Canadian cities. The aspect ratio of a building is one of the most important determinants of energy efficiency. It defines the building surface area by which heat is transferred between the interior and exterior environment. It also defines the amount of building area that is subject to solar gain. The extent to which this can be beneficial or detrimental depends on the aspect ratio and climate. This paper evaluates the relationship between the geometry of buildings and location to identify a design vernacular for energy-efficient designs across Canada. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Material Efficiency of Building Construction

by Antti Ruuska and Tarja Häkkinen

Buildings 2014, 4(3), 266-294; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4030266 - 01 Jul 2014

Cited by 83 | Viewed by 15873

Abstract

Better construction and use of buildings in the European Union would influence 42% of final energy consumption, about 35% of our greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% of all extracted materials. It could also help to save up to 30% of water [...] Read more.

Better construction and use of buildings in the European Union would influence 42% of final energy consumption, about 35% of our greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% of all extracted materials. It could also help to save up to 30% of water consumption. This paper outlines and draws conclusions about different aspects of the material efficiency of buildings and assesses the significance of different building materials on the material efficiency. The research uses an extensive literature study and a case-study in order to assess: should the depletion of materials be ignored in the environmental or sustainability assessment of buildings, are the related effects on land use, energy use and/or harmful emissions significant, should related indicators (such as GHGs) be used to indicate the material efficiency of buildings, and what is the significance of scarce materials, compared to the use of other building materials. This research suggests that the material efficiency should focus on the significant global impacts of material efficiency; not on the individual factors of it. At present global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are among the biggest global problems on which material efficiency has a direct impact on. Therefore, this paper suggests that greenhouse gas emissions could be used as an indicator for material efficiency in building. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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2931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GIS Modeling of Solar Neighborhood Potential at a Fine Spatiotemporal Resolution

by Annie Chow, Alan S. Fung and Songnian Li

Buildings 2014, 4(2), 195-206; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4020195 - 21 May 2014

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 11058

Abstract

This research presents a 3D geographic information systems (GIS) modeling approach at a fine spatiotemporal resolution to assess solar potential for the development of smart net-zero energy communities. It is important to be able to accurately identify the key areas on the facades [...] Read more.

This research presents a 3D geographic information systems (GIS) modeling approach at a fine spatiotemporal resolution to assess solar potential for the development of smart net-zero energy communities. It is important to be able to accurately identify the key areas on the facades and rooftops of buildings that receive maximum solar radiation, in order to prevent losses in solar gain due to obstructions from surrounding buildings and topographic features. A model was created in ArcGIS, in order to efficiently compute and iterate the hourly solar modeling and mapping process over a simulated year. The methodology was tested on a case study area located in southern Ontario, where two different 3D models of the site plan were analyzed. The accuracy of the work depends on the resolution and sky size of the input model. Future work is needed in order to create an efficient iterative function to speed the extraction process of the pixelated solar radiation data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimum Envelope of a Single-Family House Based on Life Cycle Analysis

by Marie-Claude Hamelin and Radu Zmeureanu

Buildings 2014, 4(2), 95-112; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4020095 - 21 Apr 2014

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5092

Abstract

This paper describes the methodology used for the life cycle cost (LCC) and life cycle energy (LCE) analyses of the case study house in Quebec, Canada. The TRNSYS energy analysis program is coupled with GenOpt, a general purpose optimization program, for the purpose [...] Read more.

This paper describes the methodology used for the life cycle cost (LCC) and life cycle energy (LCE) analyses of the case study house in Quebec, Canada. The TRNSYS energy analysis program is coupled with GenOpt, a general purpose optimization program, for the purpose of this study. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used for the search for the optimum solution. Results show that the optimum levels of insulation should be higher than the reference values, even for the case of LCC analysis. The results are for the most part still valid if electricity costs are assumed to increase below the inflation rate for the duration of the study period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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1273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Façade Assessment and Design Tool for Solar Energy (FASSADES)

by Jouri Kanters, Maria Wall and Marie-Claude Dubois

Buildings 2014, 4(1), 43-59; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4010043 - 13 Mar 2014

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7075

Abstract

Planning energy-efficient buildings which produce on-site renewable energy in an urban context is a challenge for all involved actors in the planning process. The primary objective of this study was to develop a façade assessment and design tool for solar energy (FASSADES) providing [...] Read more.

Planning energy-efficient buildings which produce on-site renewable energy in an urban context is a challenge for all involved actors in the planning process. The primary objective of this study was to develop a façade assessment and design tool for solar energy (FASSADES) providing the necessary information for all stakeholders in the design process. The secondary objective was to demonstrate the tool by performing an assessment analysis of a building block. The FASSADES tool is a DIVA4Rhino script, combining Radiance/Daysim and EnergyPlus for simulating the annual production of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems on facades, the cost-effectiveness of the solar energy system, and the payback time. Different output methods are available; graphically within the 3D drawing environment and numerically within post-processing software. The tool was tested to analyse a building block within a city under Swedish conditions. Output of the developed tool showed that shading from nearby buildings greatly affects the feasibility of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems on facades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Study on the Impact of Wind Gust Frequency on Air Exchanges in Buildings with Variable External and Internal Leakages

by Dimitrios Kraniotis, Thomas K. Thiis and Tormod Aurlien

Buildings 2014, 4(1), 27-42; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4010027 - 05 Mar 2014

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6261

Abstract

Wind-driven air infiltration has been recognized among the major reasons for energy loss in buildings, and the impact to energy efficiency under steady conditions has been reported and issued as part of many building codes. The nearly zero-energy building demand makes uncontrolled leakage [...] Read more.

Wind-driven air infiltration has been recognized among the major reasons for energy loss in buildings, and the impact to energy efficiency under steady conditions has been reported and issued as part of many building codes. The nearly zero-energy building demand makes uncontrolled leakage paths even more undesired and creates the need for further investigation of their behavior under unsteady wind conditions. The present numerical study examines the role of wind gustiness on instantaneous infiltration rates of a low-rise building. For this purpose, two levels of gust frequency Ω have been simulated, expressed as a sinusoidal factor in the wind profile formula. In parallel, a ratio α is employed to represent seven different cases of external leakages distribution, while five scenarios of compartmentalization and internal leakages shows the impact of the latter on the dynamics of building air exchange rates. The results indicate that higher wind gustiness results in higher ACH, marking out gusts as a potential critical factor under unsteady climate conditions. The infiltration rates shown in relation to the leakage distribution ratio α provide arguments for the importance of the detailed detection of external leakages while the comparison of the different internal-volume-scenario highlights the key-role of internal leakages control towards a drastic reduction of infiltration rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Modern Building Thermal Envelope Designs in the Semi-Arid Continental Climate of Tehran

by Shaghayegh Mohammad and Andrew Shea

Buildings 2013, 3(4), 674-688; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings3040674 - 04 Oct 2013

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7885

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate the thermal performance of a range of modern wall constructions used in the residential buildings of Tehran in order to find the most appropriate alternative to the traditional un-fired clay and brick materials, which are increasingly being replaced [...] Read more.

In this paper we evaluate the thermal performance of a range of modern wall constructions used in the residential buildings of Tehran in order to find the most appropriate alternative to the traditional un-fired clay and brick materials, which are increasingly being replaced in favor of more slender wall constructions employing hollow clay, autoclaved aerated concrete or light expanded clay aggregate blocks. The importance of improving the building envelope through estimating the potential for energy saving due to the application of the most energy-efficient wall type is presented and the wall constructions currently erected in Tehran are introduced along with their dynamic and steady-state thermal properties. The application of a dynamic simulation tool is explained and the output of the thermal simulation model is compared with the dynamic thermal properties of the wall constructions to assess their performance in summer and in winter. Finally, the best and worst wall type in terms of their cyclic thermal performance and their ability to moderate outdoor conditions is identified through comparison of the predicted indoor temperature and a target comfort temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Performance Analysis and Simulation)

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