Multi-Criteria optimisation using past, real time and predictive performance benchmarks
Introduction
Globally, buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption but building performance during operation does not normally reflect the original design expectations [1]. Research projects have developed IT methodologies and tools to address the complex problem of building performance assessment. The common goal of these projects is to support the building manager in reducing building energy consumption without compromising environmental performance.
European member states are currently implementing formal certification and assessment of Buildings. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive [2] prescribes energy certificates for new and existing buildings. Certification is a one-time event and subsequent to this evaluation building performance is not continuously monitored, thus making it difficult to maintain optimum operation.
This research work focuses on building energy performance during the operation phase of the Building Life Cycle (BLC) and is an integral part of the ITOBO project (Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable and Optimised Building Operation) [3]. Optimised Building Operation integrates radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless sensors, mobile technologies and building information models (BIM) with repair and maintenance activities.
This paper describes a review of currently available and emerging methodologies aimed at monitoring and reducing building energy consumption. This paper proposes a new performance based methodology that will be adopted as part of the ITOBO project. A brief case study is discussed to demonstrate the application of the methodology.
Section snippets
Available methodologies
Each and every building is unique and its use evolves over time. Operation objectives reflected by building control strategies should be coupled with present building usage. In practice, intended operation may match actual building use at the design and construction stages but during operation building function evolves without a corresponding change to the Building Management System. In the absence of regular assessments, intended and actual building operation will continue to diverge.
Proposed methodology
The methodology presented in this paper introduces automation of Fault Detection process to support performance assessment and optimisation, and focuses on the building specific benchmarks required for this. The methodology accounts for the benefits of automated Continuous Commissioning tools, which reduce both the costs and time associated with commissioning. The methodology also reduces the level of technical knowledge required, thus making it accessible to building managers.
This systematic
Case study
The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) building, located at University College Cork (UCC), was designed as a green flagship building and a low energy research facility [13]. It is a combination of both lab and office space requirements. Such facilities are often dismissed as too complex and specialized for employing a sustainable design approach. Operation of these facilities while managing low levels of energy consumption is notoriously difficult to achieve [14]. However, recent studies
Conclusions
This paper analyses the available methodologies for the building operation assessment and proposes a methodology that defines automated Fault Detection to support the application of CC. The core part of the research work within this methodology lies on the identification and classification of the inputs used in the Fault Detection process, as well as on the supply of all the information required by the Building Manager for the decision making process.
This automated process is based on the
References (17)
- et al.
Towards a wireless sensor platform for energy efficient building operation
Tsinghua Science and Technology
(2008) - et al.
Wireless sensor networks as part of a web-based building environmental monitoring system
Automation in Construction
(2008) - et al.
Model-based benchmarking with application to laboratory buildings
Energy and Buildings
(2002) - et al.
Multi-dimensional building performance data management for continuous commissioning
Advanced Engineering Informatics
(2010) Specification and Communication of Building Performance Information for Holistic Environmental and Energy Management
(2009)Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the Energy Performance of Buildings
(2002)- Portland Energy Conservation Inc. (PECI), Building Commissioning, the Key to Quality Assurance,...
- et al.
Continuous commissioning of building energy systems
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering
(2003)
Cited by (7)
EnergyPlus models for the benchmarking of residential buildings in Brunei Darussalam
2018, Energy and BuildingsCitation Excerpt :Building Energy Simulations (BES) started as a separate discipline in the late 1970s and currently it has matured into a field that offers unique expertise, methods and tools for building performance evaluation. A number of studies have been conducted in this area in the recent years, focusing on different aspects like energy audit and demand [6–8] like retrofit analysis [9], energy efficiency [10] and electrical load prediction [11–13]. All of these studies have established the crucial advantages of BES.
Identifying stakeholders and key performance indicators for district and building energy performance analysis
2017, Energy and BuildingsCitation Excerpt :The importance of stakeholders has also been attracting growing interests and attention in the energy field. However, a common ground of the current studies in the energy field is that they only presented generic lists of stakeholders without addressing the method used to identify and analyze the stakeholders [42–45]. Stakeholder analysis and engagement are crucial to energy management as the complexity of energy operations at the district and building scales involves numerous actors.
Methods for benchmarking building energy consumption against its past or intended performance: An overview
2014, Applied EnergyCitation Excerpt :Detailed energy simulation method is probably by far the most studied and widely applied simulation method. It has been used for fault detection, retrofit analysis, utility bill splitting, etc. [49–54]. However, calibrating a detailed energy simulation program is a difficult matter, for two reasons: first, there are too many uncertain inputs and parameters that can affect the results; second, available data for calibration is typically little (often only annual utility data is available).
Multi-criteria selection of the computer configuration for engineering design
2017, International Arab Journal of Information TechnologyDevelopment of a methodology based on industrial environment simulation to optimise the heating energy consumption
2014, Proceedings of the Summer School Francesco Turco