Energy Modelling
Building Energy Modelling uses a computer generated (virtual) reference building which has equivalent architectural, thermal, and electrical characteristics of a design/target building to predict energy performance of the design/target building.
Energy Modelling is used in:
• Utilize energy modelling to design a financially-feasible energy-efficient building.
• Benchmark the energy performance of a design/target building.
• Evaluate various “what-if” scenarios during all building design stages to determine energy performance.
• Illustrate multiple paths to achieve the owner’s energy-efficient building design goals.
• Provide connective insight between construction capital and operating expenses – business-case justification.
Limitations of Energy Modelling
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 User’s Manual cautions that the modelling guidelines presented in the standard are intended to provide a baseline for comparison of the estimated annual energy cost of the proposed building and the baseline building for the purposes of a rating. They are not intended to provide an accurate prediction of actual energy consumption or costs for the building as it is actually built. Even the best energy modelling tools make approximations and assumptions for how systems actually behave, e.g. variations in occupancy, control, maintenance, weather, energy rates and the precision of the simulation program. It is because we cannot predict the future.