Validation of building energy analysis simulation programs at the solar energy research institute

Abstract This article presents a synopsis of work conducted over a number of years at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) related to the validation of building energy analysis simulation programs. The work described was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Solar Buildings and Conservation Divisions, and more recently has also been sponsored under Task VIII of the International Energy Agency. This overview includes a brief description of: • • the validation methodology developed at SERI; • • the monitoring techniques used for empirical validation studies; • • several intermodel comparisons; • • an analytical verification study; • • several empirical validation studies.