It is an encouraging trend that building energy modeling has been more used at various phases of the building life cycle to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use. However, is the detailed energy simulation always the best choice? Maybe not. Especially when there is very limited information about the building, or there are lots of measured data available for the building. In these cases other methods or tools might be better choices.
In the conceptual design phase when main focus are building massing - simplified simulation models or even steady state calculations (as an example - monthly method based on EN 13790 standard) could be used at heating dominated climates.
Tipicaly due to reduced amount of inputs this approuch helps to get rought estimation of energy consumption and direct design team to right direction for developing design of energy efficient building.
Simplified calculations might be usefull if it is posible to run calculations faster and earlyer, when the focus are on building shape, glazing rates and envelope properties.
In many countries, (heating dominated) energy audithing procedures are based on steady state calculations.
detailed building energy takes into account complex geometry, envelope properties, occupancy schedule for which enrgy is being consumed, solar radiations/climate as well as clothing patterns . So whether you carry at initial level, giving rough approx values or later on, one can get idea of energy consumption. It is good to compare alternatives (surface to vol ratioo, low rise v/s high rise etc. or benefit of geometry / self shading in buildings.
It is always useful to model building at conceptual level for better decision taking process.
I understand Energy modeling as Energy audit. when concept of building starts. What I mean is that the walls, windows, orientation, occupancy ,all aspect is considered using HEVACOMP software the overall energy consumption can be approximated.
Rest is self calculated if u know psychrometric calculations and heat load calculations of each area.
HVAC design engineers are all aware of such calculations.
Scaling issues in modelling is always difficult to solve. However, for orientation following points can be interesting.
Firstly: as you told "...the available information" or I would say availability of resources in genera like expertise etc. in given study conditions.
Secondly: Study needs or problem-goal relation. Where the problems and objectives of study are located in time, space or in system level.
You might find an interesting discussion about this topics in a book (see below) published recently in springer publisher
Good luck!
Mirakyan A, De Guio R (2015) Three Domain Modelling and Uncertainty Analysis, Applications in Long Range Infrastructure Planning (in press), ISBN 978-3-319-19572-8, Springer-Verlag, http://www.springer.com/de/book/9783319195711
I believe this depends on the case and design stage. In fact, even the term "detailed energy simulation" covers a variety of simulations. Therefore, I think that the amount of time and effort that a designer puts in modelling and simulations should first be optimized based on the scale of the project, the stage of the design and the dependency of the results on the comprehensiveness of the model.
A particular problem that tends to be overlooked is the occupant interaction with the building. Physical models can be made complex to obtain accurate predictions of building energy performance, but human factors mean that highly accurate models may be of limited use at predicting real world performance.
A quite different case from the previous answers: public policies. In the context of regulations for energy efficiency in building (minimum performance, efficiency rating, building certification, etc.) it is not reasonable to force people to numerically simulate in detail small buildings, say a shop, a restaurant, etc. Simplified approaches are acceptable for these cases.
hi dear,
Other than energy utilization, heating and cooling applications, you can not use detailed building energy modelling. it depends upon your application and the type of simulation program you are using if so. it also depends upon sensitivity of calculations you are making.
In china,I can't find a case how detailed building energy modeling integrated with Monitoring of building energy consumption. In other words, I can't find a job to combine the two things especially to be a programmer way.
Whole-Building Energy Modeling (BEM) is a very efficient way used in new building and retrofit design, code compliance, green certification, qualification for tax credits and utility incentives, and real-time building control. Detailed or not simulation tools are essential to analyze buildings.
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