Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and building owners and managers, are the ultimate beneficiaries of such
research and should be informed through targeted reports and articles.
A tool validation should proceed as follows:
1. Qualification of simulation models: The aim of this subtask is to
make the simulations safer thanks to better selection and a better
use of the models available. This activity will include a review of
HVAC models available, a review of datasets, a definition of simula-
tion requirements and a definition of qualification tests.
2. Design process analysis: Description of the building and energy data
required for the use of simulation in the different phases of design,
a description of simulation results to support the decisions in the
different phases and a description of the information flow from pre-
liminary design until audit and retrofit.
3. Information management: Assess the capabilities of the existing
simulation tools [Department of Energy, EnergyPlus, American
Society of heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE)], establish a checklist of data required, propose default
values and define possible support for data collection and commu-
nication language among users.
4. Data exchange: This includes a review of data exchange formats
available and a selection of one data exchange format, which has a
connection to a life cycle energy simulation programme.
6.1.5 Arab Energy in Buildings Code
A challenging task is to design, build, and set the guidelines for a reliable
energy code that satisfies the general needs of the Arab nations and to tailor
energy utilisation in buildings as follows:
1. Set minimum energy efficiency levels of general energy-consuming
equipment in typical residential and/or commercial buildings.
2. Set the climatic data for the Arab world and build up the relevant
building envelope data that are used for energy calculations based
on local building materials and practices.
3. Set the prescriptive energy in kW/m
2
of floor area for different
applications.
4. Devise a methodology of trade-off of energy-consuming elements to
achieve an energy-efficient building.
5. Use internationally verified calculation tools of energy patterns and
buildings' energy signatures such as those of the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) [12].
