Building energy model validation and estimation using heating and cooling degree days (HDD–CDD) based on accurate base temperature

Abstract

A great deal of energy used in buildings is directed toward heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning (HVAC). The key procedure in reducing heating and cooling loads is the creation of a baseline model that represents a theoretical version of the building. This allows multiple scenarios to balance the lowest retrofit cost with the lowest annual energy cost. This study emphasizes establishing an energy consumption model and energy benchmarks for a commercial building located in Shiraz, Iran. The energy‐related data are gathered for 3 years based on real values from billing receipts. Herein, two distinct approaches are integrated; forward and inverse methods. In the forward method, building energy consumption is predicted based on building performance and specifications, geometry, location, and air conditioning system. In the reverse method, building energy consumption is evaluated using the building load coefficient and building base consumption according to effective factors such as weather data and appliance performance. Also, considering constant fixed temperatures as 18°C, and 21°C for calculating heating and cooling degree days is not correct. Thus, finding a proper and valid base temperature is the main aim of this study by examining this integrated method. The integrated application of these methods allowed determining the thermomechanical state of the building as a whole. To this end, base temperature boundaries are extracted from the energy consumption trend which grounds the need for cooling and heating. Eventually, the baseline for energy consumption of the building based on the proposed method is provided for calculating the development of methodological foundations for the design, construction, operation, and renovation of energy‐efficient buildings. The results show that according to an acceptable thermal building comfort zone of 14–18.6°C, the building achieves a 30 percent reduction in annual cooling and heating energy consumption compared to the base year.

Heating and cooling degree-days vs climate change in years 1979-2021. Evidence from the European Union and Norway

“…Worldwide, household energy consumption accounts for about a third of the total energy use. Much of the energy consumed in buildings is directed to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) (Mehregan et al, 2022). Heating remains the main application of the energy consumed by households, but the demand for cooling-related energy rises rapidly, both in high-income countries and in emerging economies such as India and China (Isaac & Vuuren, 2009).…”

Modeling thermal energy distribution and transmission networks for household consumption through comparative analysis

“…They concluded that a key method for the reduction of heating and cooling loads would be to create a base model representing a theoretical version of the building. 27 Research objectives…”

“…Accordingly, the total amount of secondary network discharge is supplied by a circulation pump with two horsepower consumption. This pump operation in operational conditions follows is controlled by equations ( 26) and (27). The flow rate of water carrying the system thermal load in the secondary transmission network is different and is obtained from equation (10).…”

Evaluation of Thermal Resistance of External Protection During Thermal Renovation of the Building

“…The set of thermal modernization works involves improving the thermal performance of the building's enclosing structures, the consumption of energy resources by engineering systems, and ensuring the energy efficiency of the building is not lower than the established minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of the building and requires significant financial investments (Spindler, U., 2022). The problem of thermal renovation is acute not only in Ukraine, this problem is solved with various scientific and technical approaches (Barahona, B.,2021;Fernandez-Luzuriaga, J., 2022;Li, H., 2022;Mehregan, M., 2022;Popescu, L. L., 2021) taking into account ethnic, economic and climatic features in many countries of the world (Echlouchi, K., 2022;Gonzalez-Caceres, A., 2022;Milovanovic, B., 2022;Ricci, M., 2022;Wu, H., 2022;Zhang, X., 2021). In addition to the energy-saving effect, thermal renovation measures reduce the negative impact on the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere (Chen, R., 2021;Kalbasi, R., 2022;Nematchoua M. K., 2022).…”