Fuller, R J and Luther, M B (2002) Thermal simulation of an Australian university building. Building Research & Information, 30(4), pp. 255-263. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
A key criterion for the environmental assessment of any building is its thermal performance. The simulation of an office module in a three-storey university building in South Eastern Australia is described. The module, located at the north-west corner of the top floor of the building, was chosen because it was likely to have the highest cooling load - a primary concern of energy-conscious designers of commercial buildings for most parts of the country. The simulation process identified the major influences on thermal performance against a base case. This enabled changes in materials and construction, as well as basic design concepts, to be evaluated. Features incorporated into the base case such as a metal roof and glazed walkway had an adverse influence on energy consumption, and were consequently rejected in preference for an improved design that included a hypocaust slab system on the roof of the office module. The final design was predicted to reduce the annual energy consumption for heating and cooling by 72 and 76%, respectively, which suggests the added value to the design process from advanced modelling and simulation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | advanced natural ventilation; Australia; commercial buildings; control systems; design process; HVAC systems; hypocaust; performance; simulation; thermal performance; trnsys |
| Index terms: | commercial building, energy consumption, module, control system, thermal performance, natural ventilation, modelling, preference, roof, metal, environmental assessment, added value, design process, designer, Australia |
| Subjects: | environmental impact, design methods, profession, construction type, energy systems, analytical methods, economic analysis, monitoring and control, Geography, design practice, architectural elements, decision-making and reasoning, traditional and composite building materials, environmental engineering |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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