English

We introduce a framework and proof of concept for estimating building energy consumption that probabilistically combines a model of building physics with observed occupancy and detailed operations data, automatically learning a physically plausible model of the energy consumption. Our framework has several desirable properties: data about one building can automatically be used to improve energy use estimates for other similar buildings; input fields can be left blank or specified approximately; and the output of our model is not only an estimate of energy usage, but a probability distributi

Whole-house ventilation systems are becoming commonplace in new construction, remodeling/renovation, and weatherization projects, driven by combinations of specific requirements for indoor air quality (IAQ), health, and compliance with standards, such as ASHRAE 62.2. At the same time we wish to reduce the energy use in homes and therefore minimize the energy used to provide ventilation. This study examined several approaches to reducing the energy requirements of providing acceptable IAQ in residential buildings. Two approaches were taken.

The goal of this study was to develop a Residential Integrated Ventilation Controller (RIVEC) to reduce the energy impact of required mechanical ventilation by 20%, maintain or improve indoor air quality and provide demand response benefits. This represents potential energy savings of about 140 GWh of electricity and 83 million therms of natural gas as well as proportional peak savings in California.

We ventilate buildings to provide acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). Ventilation standards (such as American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Enginners [ASHRAE] Standard 62) specify minimum ventilation rates without taking into account the impact of those rates on IAQ. Innovative ventilation management is often a desirable element of reducing energy consumption or improving IAQ or comfort. Variable ventilation is one innovative strategy.

This paper compares the energy performance of three office buildings as predicted by building simulation (using only the information typically available at the design stage) with the measured energy consumption of the same buildings in operation for a twelve-month period. The buildings are located in Canberra, Australia.

Damage to human health as a result of exposure to contaminants emitted to indoor air is poorly addressed in life cycle assessment tools for dwellings. A new model is available to calculate damages to human health caused by contaminants emitted from building materials, using a multizone indoor airflow and exposure model. Ventilation rates and radon concentrations have been simulated for the Dutch reference dwelling and are compared with measurement data from the Dutch Ecobuild houses and from average ventilation rates and radon concentrations in dwellings in the Netherlands.

Although simulation has traditionally been cast as a comparative tool, there is an increasing drive for  simulation to provide information on absolute performance. In this paper, key requirements are outlined for the credible prediction of absolute performance, including reporting, energy coverage, separation of behavioural and technical influences, modelling HVAC control, risk analysis and the use of simulation to generate energy targets for operation and commissioning. It is identified that the best outcomes are likely to be achieved if changes are made to design process and the role of t

The paper presents the concept of integrated calculations of both thermal behaviour of buildings  and processes of air treatment that take place in air handling units – AHU. The model of thermal  behaviour of building is based on simplified hourly method described in EN ISO 13790:2007. Standard  EN 15241:2007 was the basis for submodels describing higrothermal processes in ventilation and  air-conditioning systems. Integration resulted in conversion of 5R1C schema to 6R1C and further in  introduction of optional equations for different types of HVAC systems.

This paper describes the development of a web-based, code-compliant ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 commercial simulation for Texas. Included in the paper is a description of the software and database platform used in the web application and how this software is attached to the DOE-2 legacy software running on a cluster of servers. This tool will be used by commercial builders in Texas to check code compliance of new commercial construction for specific building types.

In this paper, the performance of Belgian building code compliant residential ventilation systems is evaluated on multiple performance indicators: occupant exposure to bio-effluents, occupant exposure to other use-related pollutants (odours) and occupant exposure to building material emissions. The fitness of the proposed criteria in this context is then discussed in a broader context and this information is then used to interpret the fitness of the code  prescriptions as design criteria for performant ventilation systems.