Simulation-based decision support tool for early stages of zero-energy building design

There is a need for decision support tools that integrate energy simulation into early design of zero energy buildings in the architectural practice. Despite the proliferation of simulation programs in the last decade, there are no ready-to-use applications that cater specifically for the hot climates and their comfort conditions. Furthermore, the majority of existing tools focus on evaluating the design alternatives after the decision making, and largely overlook the issue of informing the design before the decision making. This paper presents energy-oriented software tool that both accommodates the Egyptian context and provides informative support that aims to facilitate decision making of zero energy buildings. A residential benchmark was established coupling sensitivity analysis modelling and energy simulation software (EnergyPlus) as a means of developing a decision support tool to allow designers to rapidly and flexibly assess the thermal comfort and energy performance of early design alternatives. Validation of the results generated by the tool and ability to support the decision making are presented in the context of a case study and usability testing.

[1]  Shady Attia,et al.  Development of benchmark models for the Egyptian residential buildings sector , 2012 .

[2]  Martin Betts,et al.  Management of information technology for construction , 1993 .

[3]  Christina J. Hopfe,et al.  Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in building performance simulation for decision support and design optimization , 2009 .

[4]  Michael Donn,et al.  Simulation in the Service of Design - Asking the Right Questions , 2009 .

[5]  A Mahdavi,et al.  A dialectic of process and tool:knowledge transfer and decision-making strategies in the building deliveryprocess , 1993 .

[6]  Shady Attia,et al.  Design Decision Tool for Zero Energy Buildings , 2011 .

[7]  Shady Attia,et al.  A comparative study of the ‘architect-friendliness’ of six building performance simulation tools , 2010 .

[8]  Shady Attia,et al.  Design Decision Tool for Zero Energy Buildings, Passive and Low Energy Architecture, , 2011 .

[9]  Shady Attia,et al.  "ARCHITECT FRIENDLY": A COMPARISON OF TEN DIFFERENT BUILDING PERFORMANCE SIMULATION TOOLS , 2009 .

[10]  Andreas K. Athienitis,et al.  Design and optimization of net zero energy solar homes , 2006 .

[11]  Jon Hand,et al.  CONTRASTING THE CAPABILITIES OF BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE SIMULATION PROGRAMS , 2008 .

[12]  Andreas K. Athienitis,et al.  THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR HOUSE DESIGN TOOL , 2009 .

[13]  S. Hayter,et al.  The Energy Design Process for Designing and Constructing High-Performance Buildings , 2001 .

[14]  Edna Shaviv.  Integrating energy consciousness in the design process , 1999 .

[15]  Ulrich Bogenstätter,et al.  Prediction and optimization of life-cycle costs in early design , 2000 .

[16]  Oscar Mauricio Serrano Jaimes,et al.  EVALUACION DE LA USABILIDAD EN SITIOS WEB, BASADA EN EL ESTANDAR ISO 9241-11 (International Standard (1998) Ergonomic requirements For office work with visual display terminals (VDTs)-Parts II: Guidance on usability , 2012 .

[17]  Greg Barker,et al.  BEopt: Software for Identifying Optimal Building Designs on the Path to Zero Net Energy; Preprint , 2005 .

[18]  Salvatore Carlucci,et al.  Design, Optimization, and Modelling Issues of Net-Zero Energy Solar Buildings , 2010 .

[19]  Shady Attia,et al.  TOWARDS STRATEGIC USE OF BPS TOOLS IN EGYPT , 2011 .

[20]  Greg Barker,et al.  BEopt: Software for Identifying Optimal Building America Designs on the Path to Zero Net Energy , 2005 .

[21]  Eike Musall,et al.  Zero Energy Building A review of definitions and calculation methodologies , 2011 .

[22]  M Pilgrim,et al.  The application of visualisation techniques to the process of building performance analysis , 2003 .

[23]  Shady Attia,et al.  Selection criteria for building performance simulation tools: contrasting architects' and engineers' needs , 2012 .

[24]  Baruch Givoni,et al.  Comfort, climate analysis and building design guidelines , 1992 .

[25]  Joe Huang,et al.  The Development of Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards for Egypt , 2003 .

[26]  Shady Attia,et al.  EARLY DESIGN SIMULATION TOOLS FOR NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS: A COMPARISON OF TEN TOOLS , 2011 .

[27]  Charles Pankow.  Influence of Project Delivery Methods on Achieving Sustainable High Performance Buildings Report on Case Studies , 2010 .

[28]  Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals ( VDTs ) — Part 11 : Guidance on usability , 1998 .

[29]  Shady Attia.  State of the Art of Existing Early DesignSimulation Tools for Net Zero EnergyBuildings : A Comparison of Ten Tools , 2011 .

[30]  Shady Attia,et al.  Strategic Decision Making For Zero Energy Buildings in Hot Climates , 2010 .

[31]  I. Beausoleil-Morrison,et al.  TOOLS FOR THE DESIGN OF ZERO ENERGY SOLAR HOMES , 2005 .

[32]  Hanne Tine Ring Hansen.  SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS as a methodical approach to the development of design strategies for environmentally sustainable buildings , 2007 .

[33]  P. Torcellini,et al.  Improving Sustainability of Buildings Through a Performance-Based Design Approach , 2004 .

[34]  Yi Zhang,et al.  Performing complex parametric simulations with jEPlus , 2010 .

[35]  Shady Attia,et al.  Sizing Photovoltaic Systems during Early Design A Decision Tool for Architects , 2010 .

[36]  Cezar O.R. Negrão,et al.  Building performance simulation at the start of the 3rd millennium , 2002 .

[37]  I. G. Capeluto,et al.  Advice tool for early design stages of intelligent facades based on energy and visual comfort approach , 2009 .

[38]  Yehuda E. Kalay,et al.  Performance-based design , 1999 .

[39]  Svend Svendsen,et al.  Method and simulation program informed decisions in the early stages of building design , 2010 .