Describes improvements made in the monitoring of energy consumption in housing in the past decade. Covers the highly instrumented townhouses monitoring of Twin Rivers in the early 1970's, using more than 50 channels of data recording, with appropriate sensors. This has led to simpler systems used to evaluate energy savings following retrofits. In 1977-78, 3-channel utility demand recorders were upgraded to a 12 channel capability, and this worked successfully on more than 30 townhouses.
Describes a simple manual method for providing a rough calculation of the likely energy requirements of a building at an early stage in the project, before the detailed information required by established computer programs can be provided.
Treats the research programme initiated by the Ministry of Research and Technology with the aim of achieving a more rational use of energy in dwellings by air conditioning and ventilation measures. Points out that domestic heating is responsible for around 40% of energy consumption in West Germany, of which about one third is dissipated as ventilation heat loss.
Provides the first results of a comparison of computer predictions of building energy demands with measurements in actual buildings - the Maugwil single family house and the "La Chaumiere" block of flats. Describes the buildings and summarises the measurement results and predicted values in graphs. Concludes the results indicate that the DOE-2 program can predict the thermal behaviour of buildings with an accuracy to within 5-10% on condition that it uses precise hourly meteorological and air change rate data. Stresses the important influence of the program user.
Investigates the relationship between fuel consumption in a multi-storey block of flats and climatic exposure. Fuel consumption anomalies between identical flats are attributed to vagaries in the airflow around the building and highlight the need for improved standards of thermal insulation and/or differential thermal insulation, dependent upon flat insulation.
Reports on a study conducted to determine the impact of different ventilation rates on office building energy use, first cost, and peak electrical demand. Uses the DOE-2.1 computer program to simulate an energy-efficient office building in 5 cit
Gives some conclusions from a detailed computer analysis of the energy consumption of 600 branch bank buildings of The Bank of Novia Scotia, spread across Canada. Divides energy management into 3 categories:
States that the calculation of building energy flow is very complex, and so validation is a vital element in the development of any model. Describes an IEA R and D project to compare 23 computer programs (from 8 different countries) both in terms of consistency between programs, and in thei relative accuracy in modelling the behaviour of a real building (the Avonbank office block in Bristol). Summarizes the major conclusions developing out of the project and discusses the most important aspects which need to be considered in the development of a reliable computer program.
Describes an analytical model used to study the effects of air supply rates on the dynamics of an occupied space as related to energy consumption and occupant's comfort. Reviews the concept of Air Diffusion Performance Criteria (ADPI) and uses it to derive air movement control strategies to reduce energy consumption in buildings. Discusses the relationship between the air movement control strategies and passive thermal control strategies for energy efficient buildings.