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Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation
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Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 May 2025 | Viewed by 5952

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek

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Guest Editor
Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 20, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: smart heating and ventilation systems in building; building performance simulation; optimization models for building thermal design; microclimate in buildings; IEQ assessment; LCC in buildings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Krzysztof Grygierek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanics and Bridges, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 5, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: energy consumption modelling; thermal comfort; climate change; greenhouse gas emissions; artificial intelligence; metaheuristic methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Agnes Psikuta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
Interests: human thermal physiology; thermal comfort; clothing modelling; thermal interaction within human-clothing-environment system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change and, at the same time, the increasing expectations of building users regarding thermal comfort have led to an increase in energy consumption in buildings. The construction sector is the largest energy consumer and therefore poses significant scientific challenges. Understanding the relationship between a building, its systems, and the needs of occupants is key to dramatically reducing energy consumption in buildings. The development in the field of information technology creates great opportunities for predicting and optimising the parameters of a building, determining the indoor environment quality and energy consumption. Since the mid-1960s, simulation techniques and software have been developed to improve the optimisation of indoor parameters with changing outdoor air parameters. Building performance simulation (BPS) plays an essential role in meeting the requirements of high-performance and energy-efficient building design. The applications of building simulation are not limited to calculations at the design stage, but include predicting the performance of a building in real operating conditions, as well as predicting occupants’ thermal sensations and conditions of thermal and visual comfort, and indoor air quality. BPS methods based on macroscale models are complemented by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for detailed analysis of the distribution of air parameters in the room, which allows, for example, for the assessment of local human thermal sensations or the distribution of pollutants in the zone.

We invite you to publish original articles on the theory, design, development, and applications of building and indoor environment quality modelling and simulation. The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

  • Developments in simulation
  • Modelling and simulation of:
    • Energy demand for HVAC systems;
    • Thermal comfort;
    • Thermal sensation;
    • Indoor air quality;
    • Visual comfort;
    • Human behaviour;
    • Greenhouse gas emissions;
    • Life cycle costs.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation
  • Validation, calibration, and uncertainty
  • Optimisation
  • Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital twins for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) analysis
  • New software development

Dr. Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek
Dr. Krzysztof Grygierek
Dr. Agnes Psikuta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • building
  • building performance simulation
  • CFD
  • validation
  • modelling
  • optimisation
  • energy consumption
  • thermal comfort
  • thermal sensation
  • visual comfort
  • BIM

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 3829 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Energy-Efficient Solutions for a Single-Family House Based on the 4E Idea in Poland
by Piotr Ciuman, Jan Kaczmarczyk and Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska
Energies 2025, 18(2), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020449 - 20 Jan 2025
Viewed by 490
Abstract
The paper analyses multi-variant energy simulations carried out in IDA ICE 4.8 software for a newly designed single-family building within the framework of the 4E Idea. This idea assumes the use of energy-saving, ecological, ergonomic, and economic solutions in construction and building operation. [...] Read more.
The paper analyses multi-variant energy simulations carried out in IDA ICE 4.8 software for a newly designed single-family building within the framework of the 4E Idea. This idea assumes the use of energy-saving, ecological, ergonomic, and economic solutions in construction and building operation. Energy simulations were conducted to evaluate the annual energy-saving potential of the developed architectural house concept, which incorporates ergonomic analyses and cost-effective construction solutions. Analyses were conducted to optimise the non-renewable primary energy index by selecting mechanical ventilation system (CAV or VAV) with heat recovery; the configuration of photovoltaic module installation in terms of their location and orientation; the exposure and type of solar thermal collectors (flat and vacuum); and the use of two types of heat pumps (air- and ground-source). The most favourable energy performance of the building was achieved with an HVAC system equipped with a VAV mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, an on-grid photovoltaic installation, vacuum solar thermal collectors, and a ground-source heat pump with a horizontal heat exchanger. This configuration resulted in a primary energy index value of 2 kWh/m2/year. The results of the analyses carried out for the 4E building concept may serve as a reference point for future energy-efficient building designs aspiring to meet higher standards of sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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24 pages, 6317 KiB  
Article
BIM-Based Machine Learning Application for Parametric Assessment of Building Energy Performance
by Panagiotis Tsikas, Athanasios Chassiakos, Vasileios Papadimitropoulos and Antonios Papamanolis
Energies 2025, 18(1), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18010201 - 5 Jan 2025
Viewed by 953
Abstract
The energy performance of buildings has become a main concern globally in response to increased energy demand, the environmental impacts of energy production, and the reality of energy poverty. To improve energy efficiency, proper building design should be secured at the early design [...] Read more.
The energy performance of buildings has become a main concern globally in response to increased energy demand, the environmental impacts of energy production, and the reality of energy poverty. To improve energy efficiency, proper building design should be secured at the early design phase. Digital tools are currently available for performing energy assessment analyses and can efficiently handle complex and technically demanding buildings. However, alternative designs should be checked individually, and this makes the process time-consuming and prone to errors. Machine learning techniques can provide valuable assistance in developing decision support tools. In this paper, typical residential buildings are considered along with eleven factors that highly affect energy performance. A dataset of 337 instances of such parameters is developed. For each dataset, the building energy performance is estimated based on BIM analysis. Next, statistical and machine learning techniques are implemented to provide artificial models of energy performance. They include statistical regression modeling (SRM), decision trees (DTs), random forests (RFs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The analysis reveals the contribution of each factor and highlights the ANN as the best performing model. An easy-to-use interface tool has been developed for the instantaneous calculation of the energy performance based on the independent parameter values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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19 pages, 2972 KiB  
Article
CFD and Statistical Analysis of the Impact of Surface Physical Parameters on the Thermal Resistance of Layered Partitions in ETICS Systems
by Arkadiusz Urzędowski, Andrzej Sachajdak, Arkadiusz Syta and Jacek Zaburko
Energies 2025, 18(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18010107 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 475
Abstract
In the article, the authors attempted to analyze the impact of such materials factors as surface emissivity, surface roughness, air gap thickness, and type of concrete on heat transport in the microstructure of vertical multilayer building walls. The surface analysis conducted using three-dimensional [...] Read more.
In the article, the authors attempted to analyze the impact of such materials factors as surface emissivity, surface roughness, air gap thickness, and type of concrete on heat transport in the microstructure of vertical multilayer building walls. The surface analysis conducted using three-dimensional modeling tools provided information about the formation of its microstructure before and after the application of a reflection-smoothing coating, which has a direct impact on the emissivity of the surface and was reduced from 0.93 to 0.29. Thermal analyses demonstrated that after applying the reflective coating, thermal resistance increased significantly in the air gap, by approximately 86%, which resulted in a 28% improvement of the evaluated walls samples. The studies have shown that increasing the gap thickness between concrete and thermal insulation results in a thermal resistance increase. It is feasible to enhance the thermal insulation of walls while simultaneously reducing their thickness, a development that holds significant potential for application in the production of prefabricated sandwich panels. The statistical analyzes performed showed significant differences between the analyzed configurations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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24 pages, 11028 KiB  
Article
Impact of Shading Effect from Nearby Buildings on Energy Demand and Load Calculations for Historic City Centres in Central Europe
by Agnieszka Sadłowska-Sałęga and Krzysztof Wąs
Energies 2024, 17(24), 6400; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246400 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 542
Abstract
EU legislation requires introducing a variety of measures to reduce energy consumption. Energy use decrease should be achieved through thermal retrofitting of the least energy-efficient buildings. In the case of cities like Kraków, this means the need to modernize (retrofitting as well as [...] Read more.
EU legislation requires introducing a variety of measures to reduce energy consumption. Energy use decrease should be achieved through thermal retrofitting of the least energy-efficient buildings. In the case of cities like Kraków, this means the need to modernize (retrofitting as well as the incorporation of modern HVAC systems) historical buildings. Furthermore, urban morphology is an influencing factor with regards to the energy performance of buildings and therefore of cities (since the influence of shading from nearby buildings cannot be ignored). The paper presents the results of a study on the impact of shading on energy demand for heating and cooling in the historic centre of Krakow. A comparative analysis of the simulation calculation results was performed using the statistical climate as a boundary condition. In the case of a typical five-floor residential tenement house from the turn of the 20th century, an 8% increase in energy demand for heating and a 50% reduction in energy demand for cooling were estimated. As the analysis of the results shows, taking into account the shading from nearby buildings may be crucial for optimizing the volume (power of devices, diameters of ducts and pipes) of the HVAC installation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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29 pages, 6155 KiB  
Article
Prioritizing Energy Performance Improvement Factors for Senior Centers Based on Building Energy Simulation and Economic Feasibility
by Arisae Nam and Young Il Kim
Energies 2024, 17(22), 5576; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225576 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
This study examined energy performance improvement factors by analyzing both energy performance and the economic impacts to reduce energy costs for senior centers. A fact-finding survey was conducted on 20 senior centers in a metropolitan area, identifying key energy improvement factors. Energy simulations [...] Read more.
This study examined energy performance improvement factors by analyzing both energy performance and the economic impacts to reduce energy costs for senior centers. A fact-finding survey was conducted on 20 senior centers in a metropolitan area, identifying key energy improvement factors. Energy simulations of the buildings were performed using ECO2, an officially certified energy assessment program in Korea, comparing the energy requirements before and after the improvements. The energy demand, energy consumption, and floor area were analyzed, with the J, K, and S standard models selected based on the median values of these factors. To assess the impact of the improvements, blower door tests were conducted on two senior centers before and after window upgrades. Based on the ECO2 simulations and the blower door test results, improvement priorities were identified in the following order: windows, exterior walls, boilers, roofs, and doors. Finally, an economic feasibility analysis applied the construction and heating costs to the standard models. Over a 40-year period, only boiler improvements generated a net profit. Without government support, this study recommends prioritizing boiler upgrades when selecting energy performance improvements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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31 pages, 4302 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Influence of Occupancy Factors on Energy Performance in US Small Office Buildings
by Seddigheh Norouziasl, Sorena Vosoughkhosravi, Amirhosein Jafari and Zhihong Pang
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5277; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215277 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 953
Abstract
Office buildings are responsible for about 35% of the total electricity in the US and over 70% of building energy consumption occurs during occupancy periods. Therefore, understanding occupancy behavior is crucial for reducing building energy consumption. However, given the stochastic nature of occupant [...] Read more.
Office buildings are responsible for about 35% of the total electricity in the US and over 70% of building energy consumption occurs during occupancy periods. Therefore, understanding occupancy behavior is crucial for reducing building energy consumption. However, given the stochastic nature of occupant behavior, identifying which occupancy parameters have the most impact on energy consumption poses a considerable challenge. This study aims to investigate and quantify the impact of various occupancy parameters on the energy performance of a US small-sized office building using an EnergyPlus-based nationwide energy simulation. First, dynamic occupancy schedules are created based on different occupancy parameters using an agent-based model. Next, the generated dynamic occupancy schedules are integrated into a small office building model from the Department of Energy’s prototypes. This creates a dataset of occupancy parameters and building energy performance across various climate zones. Finally, various feature selection and statistical analysis methods are applied to the generated dataset. This helps identify significant occupancy parameters and quantify their impact on building energy performance across different climate zones. According to the results of the study, buildings located in cool marine, mixed marine, and warm marine climate zones had lower total energy consumption compared to other zones. Additionally, feature selection methods identified “Occupant Density” as the primary significant variable impacting energy consumption, across all climate zones. These findings offer valuable insights into the influential occupancy parameters across various climate zones, highlighting the importance of tailoring occupancy schedules to enhance energy efficiency. They provide practical guidance that can be directly applied to optimize energy consumption and achieve significant energy savings in small office settings with different weather conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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19 pages, 2455 KiB  
Article
Eddy–Viscosity Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes Modeling of Air Distribution in a Sidewall Jet Supplied into a Room
by Maria Hurnik, Piotr Ciuman and Zbigniew Popiolek
Energies 2024, 17(5), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051261 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1145
Abstract
Air velocity is one of the key parameters affecting the sensation of thermal comfort. In mixing ventilation, the air is most often supplied above the occupied zone, and the air movement in a room is caused by jets that generate recirculating flows. An [...] Read more.
Air velocity is one of the key parameters affecting the sensation of thermal comfort. In mixing ventilation, the air is most often supplied above the occupied zone, and the air movement in a room is caused by jets that generate recirculating flows. An effective tool for predicting airflow in a room is CFD numerical modeling. In order to reproduce the air velocity distribution, it is essential to select a proper turbulence model. In this paper, seven Eddy–Viscosity RANS turbulence models were used to carry out CFD simulations of a sidewall air jet supplied into a room through a wall diffuser. The goal was to determine which model was the most suitable to adopt in this type of airflow. The CFD results were validated using experimental data by comparing the gross and integral parameters, along with the parameters of the quasi-free jet model. The numerical results obtained for Std k-ε and EVTM models were most consistent with the measurements. Their error values slightly exceeded 15%. On the contrary, the k-ω and RNG k-ε models did not reproduce the quasi-free jet parameters correctly. The research findings can prove beneficial for simulating air distribution in supplied air jets during the initial conceptual phases of HVAC system design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Energy Performance Modelling and Simulation)
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