This document summarizes a final colloquium presentation on using building performance simulations to evaluate building energy regulation for residential buildings in Brazil. The presentation discusses Brazil's growing electricity consumption and the introduction of energy labeling for residential buildings. It then uses simulations to evaluate a simplified method used in the energy labeling by comparing performance indicators for natural ventilation and air conditioning against a more detailed energy modeling approach. The results show limitations in the simplified method, and recommendations are made to improve it to better assess building energy efficiency.

1. Final colloquium
Building performance simulation to
support building energy regulation.
A case study for residential buildings in Brazil.
December 21st 2011
Arjan van der Knaap

2. Outline
Introduction: Building Energy Regulation in Brazil
Methods: Evaluation with Building Performance Simulations
Results: Natural Ventilation & Air-Conditioning
Discussion: Effectiveness of Building Energy Regulation
Conclusions: Findings & Recommendations
3/5/2012 PAGE 1

3. Introduction
3/5/2012 PAGE 2

4. Preface
3/5/2012 PAGE 3

5. Introduction
3/5/2012 PAGE 4

6. Supervisors:
prof. dr. ir. Jan Hensen
Introduction – Global dr. ir. Marcel Loomans
dr. Daniel Cóstola
3/5/2012 PAGE 5

7. Electricity Consumption
Brazil
3/5/2012 PAGE 6

8. Supervisors:
prof. dr. ir. Jan Hensen
Energy Consumption dr. ir. Marcel Loomans
dr. Daniel Cóstola
/ Building Physics and Systems / Computational Building Performance Simulation 3/5/2012 PAGE 7

9. Renewable Energy
3/5/2012 PAGE 8

10. Electricity Consumption
Sector Buildings
0%
4% 4% 18%
48%
50%
44%
32%
Buildings Industry Energy
Agriculture Transport Residential Commercial Public
3/5/2012 PAGE 9

11. 3/5/2012 PAGE 10

12. Building Energy Regulation
Commercial Residential
2007 2010 3/5/2012 PAGE 11

13. Residential Buildings
3/5/2012 PAGE 12

14. Energy Label
Domestic Hot Water
5-35%
Thermal Envelope
65-95%
3/5/2012 PAGE 13

15. Efficiency Thermal Envelope
Performance
Conditioning Method
Indicators
Overheating
Natural [Degree Hours] Simplified
Ventilation Method
Heating
[kWh/m²]
Building
Air-
Performance
Conditioning Cooling Simulations
[kWh/m²]
3/5/2012 PAGE 14

16. Simplified Method
Overheating
Heating
Cooling
3/5/2012 PAGE 15

17. Literature - Performance Indicator
Assessment: Accuracy, scope, complexity, sensitivity[1]
Basic Elements[2] Brazilian Standard
Thermal Envelope √
HVAC-system √
DHW-system √
Lighting X
Appliances X
[1 ] L. Pérez-Lombard, et al., A review of benchmarking, rating and labelling concepts within the framework of building energy certification
schemes, Energy and Buildings 41 (2009) 272-278
[2] L. Pérez-Lombard, et al., A review of HVAC system requirements in building energy regulation, Energy and Buildings 43 (2011) 255-268
3/5/2012 PAGE 16

18. Literature - Effective Building Energy Regulation[3]
Cost-effective
[3] L. Pérez-Lombard, et al., A review of
benchmarking, rating and labelling concepts within the
framework of building energy certification
schemes, Energy and Buildings 41 (2009) 272-278
3/5/2012 PAGE 17

19. Objective
‘To determine whether the Simplified Method
is able to represent and assess energy
efficiency of residential buildings.’
3/5/2012 PAGE 18

20. Methods
3/5/2012 PAGE 19

21. Methods
3/5/2012 PAGE 20

22. Overview
3/5/2012 PAGE 21

23. Pre-Process - Baseline Scenario
3/5/2012 PAGE 22

24. Pre-Process - Variations in Input Parameters
Nr. Parameter Method Nr. Parameter Method
1. Orientation SM / E+ 13. COP E+
2. U-value Walls SM / E+ 14. Setpoint for Heating E+
3. U-value Roof SM / E+ 15. Setpoint for Cooling E+
4. Solar Absorptance SM / E+ 16. Setpoint for Windows E+
5. Window Area SM / E+ 17. IHG: people in bedroom E+
6. Operable Window Area SM / E+ 18. IHG: people in living E+
7. Blinded Window Area SM / E+ 19. IHG: Lighting E+
8. Thermal Capacity SM / E+ 20. IHG: Appliances E+
9. Terrain E+ 21. Schedule for Blinds E+
10. Discharge Coefficient E+ 22. Schedule for HVAC-system E+
11. Crack flow E+ 23. Schedule for Windows E+
12. Glass type E+
3/5/2012 PAGE 23

25. Simulations – Samples
Performance
Method Samples
Indicator
Cooling
Simplified Air-
Method Conditioning
Heating
Natural
EnergyPlus Overheating
Ventilation
3/5/2012 PAGE 24

26. Post-Process - Aspects of Assessment
Performance
Energy Labels Sensitivity to Input
Indicators
Air-Conditioning Cooling Performance Indicators
Cooling & Heating
Heating Input Parameters
Natural Ventilation
Overheating & Heating
Overheating Spearman Coefficient
3/5/2012 PAGE 25

27. Assessment of Simplified Method
Performance Sensitivity
Energy Labels
Indicators to Input
3/5/2012 PAGE 26

28. Results
Natural Ventilation
3/5/2012 PAGE 27

29. Energy Labels - Natural Ventilation
3/5/2012 PAGE 28

30. Performance Indicator - Overheating
3/5/2012 PAGE 29

31. Performance Indicator - Heating
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32. Sensitivity to Input - Overheating
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33. Sensitivity to Input - Heating
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34. Results
Air-Conditioning
3/5/2012 PAGE 33

35. Energy Labels – Air-Conditioning
3/5/2012 PAGE 34

36. Performance Indicator - Cooling
3/5/2012 PAGE 35

37. Sensitivity to Input - Cooling
3/5/2012 PAGE 36

38. Discussion
3/5/2012 PAGE 37

39. Natural Ventilation
Cost-effective
3/5/2012 PAGE 38

40. Air-Conditioning
Cost-effective
3/5/2012 PAGE 39

41. Simplified Method
3/5/2012 PAGE 40

42. Conclusions
3/5/2012 PAGE 41

43. Conclusions
Simplified Method Represent and Assess Energy Efficiency?
Limited
3/5/2012 PAGE 42

44. Recommendations
Improve Simplified Method to assess performance indicators:
3/5/2012 PAGE 43

45. Final colloquium
Building performance simulation to
support building energy regulation.
A case study for residential buildings in Brazil.
December 21st 2011
Arjan van der Knaap