1. THE USE OF BIM TO ANALYSE THE BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF A RETROFITTED
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING IN IRELAND
(BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT GMIT)
1. Introduction
"Buildings consume 40% of global primary energy and contribute to in excess
of 30% CO2 emissions.” (Costa, Keane et al. 2013).
 These figures are very high proportion
of total global energy use and carbon
dioxide emissions
 There needs to be a change in the way
buildings are designed and build with
bigger emphasis on enhanced energy
performance and energy conservation.
 There is also a large stock of buildings within Ireland that have poor
energy performance and are poorly constructed.
 This opens up an opportunity to address this with retrofitting instead of
new construction.
MARK THORNTON
G00292459
B.Sc. (Hons) in ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY
2015
2. Aim of the Research
Primary
 A model was produced using
Autodesk Revit
 The analysis was run using
Autodesk Green Building
Studio
 3 runs were analysed; Base
Run using just upgraded
building, a run using an air
5. Results and Conclusions
Revit Model
The software had many limitations mainly
being the limited HVAC systems that can
be used and the use of assumptions when it came to the PV potential and
building occupancy. These limitations didn’t allow for an accurate
representation of the energy use within the building and the results didn’t reach
the desired NZEB targets.
A. Base Run Results B. Air Source Heat Pump Results
C. Gas Condensing Boiler Results
1) To Analyse the energy performance and Technical Guidance Document
Part L 2011 and NZEB compliance as a case study of an upgraded
educational building using Building Information Modelling (BIM) software
(Revit) and building energy performance simulation software
2) Compare findings and limitations of the software and analyse the accuracy
of the results.
3. Methodology
 A Revit model was completed of the
proposed upgrade of the Building and
Civil Engineering Department of GMIT
as a case study
 Various simulation software
was looked and Autodesk
Green Building Studio was
chosen
 3 different runs for analysis were done with different HVAC systems and
renewable technologies
4. Research
SECONDARY
Irish Regulations for Building Energy Performance
 Technical Guidance Document Part L -
Conservation of fuel and energy Buildings other
than dwellings 2008 and dwellings 2011
 Being revised and expected to be released in 2015.
 Proposed changes to the current regulations are to
help Ireland achieve its NZEB (nearly zero energy
buildings) target
NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy
Buildings)
 The targets set out that a building
should achieve a BER (building
energy rating) of A3 or higher
 Primary energy uses of 45kWh/
m2
/annum
 Target set out for BER rating of
C1 or higher for existing buildings
 Primary energy uses of 125 to
150kWh/m2
/annum for existing
buildings
 22% of the energy used supplied
from renewable sources of energy.
 To help achieve the NZEB targets it
is recommended that energy savings
be looked at the design stage with
Energy Efficient Design. (EED).
EED means that the construction
and the management of building
should consume as little energy as
possible during the operation of the
building.
Potential savings at the design stage
Total Energy usage compared against NZEB
Targets
How BIM is Used and Allows for Analysis and
Simulation