An interface model for building energy performance simulation in an integrated computer-aided design environment

Abstract

Computer-aided building design (CABD) has been very diversified since the design process encompasses so many decision making steps by architects. However, the segregated design decision making process frequently prevents achievement of effective evaluation of a building's final performance. Thus, integration of isolated design decision support systems into a CABD system is a crucial step toward responsible design. To enhance energy performance of a building at the design stage, a rigorous energy simulation process has to be adopted into an integrated CABD system. A prototype interface system is developed for a building energy simulation model illustrating appropriate input processing and results analysis & recovery system paradigm in an integrated CABD environment. In the prototype (ENERife), utilization of normalized building descriptions for 15 building types enable building designers (1) to configure a complicated building description dynamically at the preliminary design stage and, (2) to retrofit any extraordinary simulation results of the design with effectiveness. Building databases for normalized building configurations are compiled and screened by domain experts from various building energy guidelines and handbooks. The interface system simultaneously interacts with system component modules extracting design information.