This document discusses building performance simulation (BPS) programs and how they are used. It provides background on the development of BPS programs from the 1960s to present day, noting their evolution from evaluating fallout shelters to helping architects design more energy efficient buildings. BPS programs model the complex energy flows within and surrounding a building. They allow architects to analyze different energy conservation measures and their interactions, helping optimize building performance and costs. The document recommends EnergyPlus as a BPS program and discusses using graphical user interfaces to input building data and run simulations to evaluate energy performance over time.

3. Where did
it go ?

4. Introduction: What is a building performance
simulation program?
1

5. A buildings is a complex thermodynamic object that
accommodates constantly changing energy flows
between the different thermal zones within the building
and the outside.

6. The two main components
of the building energy
simulation model are the
building fabric and content
(walls, floors, ceilings,
occupants and equipment)
and the plant components
(HAVC equipment and
other environmental control
systems)

7. Due to the complexity of a building model, computer
simulations can analyze the effects of different ECMs
(Energy Conservation Measures) and their complex
interactions more efficiently, comprehensively and
accurately that any other available method

8. How and why did Building Performance Simulation
(BPS) start?
2

9. 1960’s US government
involved in projects to
evaluate the thermal
environment in fallout
shelters

10. BPS tools evolving as a discipline producing a
variety of BPS tools that are scientifically and
internationally validated

11. 1980’s several
BPS tools developed
to help architects
perform early energy
analysis and create
more energy
efficient and
sustainable buildings

12. 1990’s architects
and designers got
more encouraged to
join the BPS field

13. BPS tools address: energy consumption of buildings
(cooling and heating demands), thermal comfort,
natural lighting and ventilation

14. Using BPS tools in the
early design process began
having an impact on energy
performance and cost of
buildings

15. Do we really need BPS tools as architects?
3

16. Most BPS tools are developed by technical
researchers, building physicists or HVAC engineers

17. BPS is not just a physical analysis but also a human,
psychological and social discipline

18. It involves man-computer interaction and human
knowledge processing, while enriching human
experience

19. BPS tools improve the integration and alliances
between engineers, architects and constructers to
create realistically integrated projects together

20. BPS tools are decision
tools developed to help
architects and building
designers to predict and
simulate quickly the
building performance in
early design stages

21. It is a methodological decision tool that can help in
determining technical design requirements
Geometry Loads Results

22. How to use a simulation program?
(Energy Plus)
4

23. We will be using EnergyPlus as the
simulation engine
EnergyPlus is the U.S. Departments of
Energy’s 3rd generation
dynamic building energy simulation engine
for modeling building,
heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating and
other energy flows

24. The program was developed during the
nineties and is an
amalgamation of the BLAST and DOE-2
simulation engines. Apart
from energy use, the program can be
used for load calculations
and to model natural ventilation,
photovoltaic systems, thermal
comfort, water use, green roofs and other
ECMs.

26. Choosing a GUI for
Energy Plus?
Simulation engine
Graphical User Interfaces

27. Example: DK Integral
Energy performance simulation program
5

28.  DK Integral is a simulation tool for energy
efficient and cost optimized buildings
developed by the German physicist and
engineer Siegfried Delzer
 it calculates and simulates the energy
performance of a building and evaluates it
through graphs

29. Start

34. Entering Data

42. Simulation