Comparing the robustness of building regulation and low energy design philosophies

The sensitivity of a real (under construction) UK school building’s energy consumption to input parameters was investigated using IES Virtual Environment.  Differential sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo analysis were conducted for two base models, one set at 2006 Building Regulation standards and one at Passivhaus certification level.  Heated temperature and envelope specification were the dominant factors governing energy consumption for the Building Regulation model, while for the Passivhaus model occupancy parameters and class equipment load were most important.  In addition, the range of final energy consumption was far smaller for the Passivhaus base case than for the Building Regulation equivalent.