Implementing building energy simulation into the design process: a teaching experience in Brazil

For many reasons building simulation programs are still not recognised as useful design support tools to the same extent as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) or cost-estimating software. There is a strong perception that simulations are time consuming, costly, slow and require expensive or specialised equipment and knowledge that increase design costs. Additionally, simplifications applied to model description, algorithm inaccuracy, or deviations inherent to weather data treatment methods result in poor matches between measurements and predictions, which decrease confidence in obtained results. Finally, complex tools and interfaces raise doubts among potential users. In general terms, energy efficiency is a recent concern in Brazil, but has clearly come to the discussion forefront among all construction sector stakeholders. In architectural design teaching at the undergraduate level in Brazil, environmental comfort and energy efficiency have been traditionally kept as separate knowledge domains. To overcome these problems a new discipline has been introduced at the University of Campinas, UNICAMP in Brazil following a bioclimatic design studio, to consolidate the acquired knowledge and test concepts on student's designs. To evaluate this course an experimental follow-up research is currently underway. This paper discusses the contextual framework that motivated and founded the approach for the introduction of simulation as both a decision support tool and a design teaching resource. The bioclimatic design studio given in 2005 provided students a contact with simulation tools and was used to assess the suitability of the chosen tool for such experience.