Rapid Building Energy Modeling Using Prototype Model and Automatic Model Calibration for Retrofit Analysis with Uncertainty

Abstract

Building performance simulation can be used for retrofit analysis. However, it is time-consuming to create building energy models for existing buildings. This paper presented and implemented a rapid building energy modeling method for existing buildings by using prototype models and automatic model calibration for retrofit analysis with uncertainty. A shopping mall building located in Changsha, China, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the rapid modeling method. First, a toolkit named AutoBPS-Param was developed to generate building energy models with parameterized geometry data. A baseline EnergyPlus model was generated based on the building’s basic information, including vintage, climate zone, total floor area, and percentage of each function type. Next, Monte Carlo sampling was applied to generate 1000 combinations for fourteen parameters. One thousand EnergyPlus models were created by modifying the baseline model with each parameter combination. Moreover, the 1000 simulation results were compared with the measured monthly electricity and natural gas usage data to find 29 calibrated solutions. Finally, the 29 calibrated energy models were used to evaluate the energy-saving potential of three energy conservation measures with uncertainty. The retrofit analysis results indicated that the electrical energy saving percentage of chiller replacement ranged from 1.57% to 13.51%, with an average of 8.27%. The energy-saving rate of lighting system replacement ranged from 1.92% to 11.66%, with an average of 6.43%. The energy-saving rate of window replacement ranges from 0.31% to 1.81%, with an average of 0.55%. The results showed that AutoBPS-Param could rapidly create building energy models for existing buildings and can be used for retrofit analysis after model calibration.

Urban Building Energy Modeling with Parameterized Geometry and Detailed Thermal Zones for Complex Building Types

“…Four function models exist in Au-toBPS: AutoBPS-GEO, AutoBPS-OSS, AutoBPS-RM, and AutoBPS-PV. Wei et al [30] showed AutoBPS-Param to present a rapid model for an existing shopping mall. Though Wei et al [30] have shown the rapid establishment progress for a shopping mall using AutoBPS-Param, this paper further develops the AutoBPS-Param for complex different building types with pre-defined parameters.…”

Enhanced Operation of Ice Storage System for Peak Load Management in Shopping Malls across Diverse Climate Zones

“…Figure 2 presents the building geometry of the baseline model illustrating the baseline shopping mall model, which serves as a prototype and is generated using AutoBPS. The parameters of the baseline model are modified through calibration and modeling based on empirical data collected from a specific commercial building in Changsha [47]. This procedure is supported by collecting monthly actual energy consumption data of the commercial buildings, along with basic building parameters like the building envelope structure.…”

“…This procedure is supported by collecting monthly actual energy consumption data of the commercial buildings, along with basic building parameters like the building envelope structure. Subsequently, this data is input into the urban building modeling tool, Au The parameters of the baseline model are modified through calibration and modeling based on empirical data collected from a specific commercial building in Changsha [47]. This procedure is supported by collecting monthly actual energy consumption data of the commercial buildings, along with basic building parameters like the building envelope structure.…”