Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Energy Modeling
10.1
Basics of Load Calculations and Energy Modeling
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in its publication (AIA
2012
) recognizes
four types of energy-performance modeling methods. These methods are Design
Performance Modeling (DPM), Building Operations Modeling (BOM), Project
Resource Modeling (PRM), and Building Energy Modeling (BEM).
Design Performance Modeling is a very introductory, simple, and fast energy
consumption enhancement evaluation of the building in the early stages of the
design. In this method designers attempt to roughly evaluate the possible effective-
ness of energy consumption enhancement factors such as day-lighting and natural
ventilation on the energy effi ciency of their specifi c building.
Building Operation Modeling by defi nition requires to be performed after a few
years of completion of the building. The advantage of this approach is that it is
done based on the actual utility bills and weather data at the building location. This
allows designer and the owner of the building to compare the real building energy
consumption against the design model energy consumption. Such actual results
can help to study, recognize, and target the causes of any possible defi ciencies in
the building and its systems and therefore creates an opportunity to improve the
building performance to and even above the level which its original design was
intended to be.
Project Resource Modeling is an extensive form of modeling that not only
includes studying of the building consumed energy, but also is included of evaluat-
ing other factors such as material selection, site resources, resources that are brought
to the site, and waste material use.
Finally Building Energy Modeling is the common tool for predicting the build-
ing energy consumption during the design phase. This model is regularly used in
different stages of the design, and therefore requires more attention. Due to its
importance, in the remaining of this chapter I will discuss BEM in more detail.
