Transformation of Fundamental Parameters for Energy Demand and Indoor Temperature from Room Level to Building Level

Because the thermal optimization of a new building must be done in the planning phase, possible thermal optimizations are sought for the building by varying several parameters. This research article is based on the research of ‘climate surfaces’ by Prof. Keller and Dr Burmeister at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (Burmeister and Keller, 1998). The question should be resolved whether this simplified method using climate surfaces is applicable to the entire building. The most important parameters of the building have been systematically changed and their impact on energy performance during different outdoor climate changes was observed. As a result, the impacts on the following are presented and discussed: Heat energy demands, Cooling energy demands, and Summer indoor temperatures.

The results of these investigations showed that the ‘multizone climate surface’ method is a very practical and clear strategy for estimating the thermal behavior of a building by the correct selection of three determining parameters. Already in an early planning stage, it is possible to establish the optimal building data, at a sufficient level of detail, where energy consumption has been concerned. The study is carried out using the monthly energy balance method and dynamic simulation using ‘BuildOpt’ software. The objective was to establish if the much simpler monthly balance method will give sufficiently precise results for this optimization, or if a simulation must be performed. The results of the analysis indicate that the monthly balance method is inaccurate, especially for buildings with low energy demands. Subsequent studies deal with the optimization of the most important construction assembly parameters of a building for specific climates. The results of the optimization studies are presented in this article.