Assessing the Energy, Indoor Air Quality, and Moisture Performance for a Three-Story Building Using an Integrated Model, Part Three: Development of Integrated Model and Applications

Abstract

The overall building performance depends mainly on the energy performance, indoor air quality, and moisture performance. In order to accurately calculate the building performance, the development of a model with the ability to integrate all three performances is required. In this research, a combination of three models namely EnergyPlus for energy, CONTAM for indoor air quality, and WUFI for moisture transport are used to develop an integrated model. The mechanism of this combination is based on the exchange of temperatures, airflows, and heating-cooling flows control variables between all three sub-models. By using the paired sample t-test, an integrated model is verified and its accuracy is validated. The accuracy of the integrated model is verified by the paired sample t-test. In order to analyze the accuracy of the integrated model in comparison with single models, four scenarios of airtight fan off, airtight fan on, leaky fan off, and leaky fan on are defined for a three-story-house subjected to three different climate cities of Montreal, Vancouver, and Miami. Percentage differences of simulated measures with the ASHRAE Standard are considered as the performance criteria. The simulated results by single and integrated models are compared and analyzed. Finally, the scenarios with the high performances are evaluated in terms of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and moisture for Montreal, Vancouver, and Miami. Overall, it can be concluded that an integrated model should be developed.

Assessing the Energy, Indoor Air Quality, and Moisture Performance for a Three-Story Building Using an Integrated Model, Part Two: Integrating the Indoor Air Quality, Moisture, and Thermal Comfort

“…Therefore, any differences between the results obtained with the present integrated model and those obtained with the single models (i.e., CONTAM and WUFI) suggest that the integrated model method can be a reliable alternative to the single model method for accurately assessing the indoor air quality, moisture, and thermal comfort performances for one-story, two-story, and threestory buildings when they are subjected to various climatic conditions. Last but not least, the EnergyPlus model was recently coupled with the present integrated model to simultaneously assess the overall performance (i.e., energy, indoor air quality, and moisture with thermal comfort performances) of the same three-story house considered in this study when it was subjected to the climatic conditions of Montreal, Vancouver, and Miami [42].…”

“…However, the present integrated model can also be used to assess the indoor air quality, moisture, and thermal comfort performances of other types of one, two, and three-story houses. Most recently, the EnergyPlus model was successfully coupled with the present integrated model developed in this study so as to simultaneously assess the energy, indoor air quality, moisture, and thermal comfort performances for the same three-story house considered in this study, subjected to the climatic conditions of Montreal, Vancouver, and Miami [42].…”

Feasibility of Multi-Zone Simulation for Estimating Contributions of Outdoor Particulate Pollution to Indoor Particulate Matter Concentration

“…It is necessary to investigate whether this method is feasible for evaluating the effectiveness of passive or active strategies for controlling indoor PM. Multi-zone simulations were used to assess indoor air quality [55][56][57]. In these studies, the building energy consumption and IAQ were estimated using CONTAM and EnergyPlus.…”

Hygrothermal Performance of Roofs with High Initial Construction Moisture Subjected to Hot Climate

“…It is important to point out that this study focusses only on the energy and moisture performance of one assembly/ component of the building envelope (black and cool roofs). Assessing the indoor air quality and the corresponding indoor thermal comfort, however, requires assessing the performance of the whole building rather than the performance of only one building assembly (e.g., see [58][59][60] for more details).…”