Combining CAD Modeling and Simulation of Energy Performance Data for the Retrofit of Public Buildings

Konstantinos Sofias, Zoe Kanetaki, Constantinos Stergiou and Sébastien Jacques ()
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Konstantinos Sofias: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Athens, Greece
Zoe Kanetaki: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Athens, Greece
Constantinos Stergiou: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Athens, Greece
Sébastien Jacques: University of Tours, CEDEX 1, 37020 Tours, France

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: The retrofit of the most energy-intensive buildings represents an opportunity to improve their energy efficiency or to reduce their energy demand. This paper proposes combining computer-aided design (CAD) modeling and the use of energy efficiency software to build a methodology for calculating, visualizing and analyzing building parameters in order to provide retrofit scenarios. Five retrofit scenarios were implemented using the energy software, including the initial operating cost, capital cost and payback period to be evaluated. At the same time, a three-dimensional CAD model was created to perform daylighting and shading simulations to visualize and design the role of building orientation under actual use conditions. These retrofit scenarios were evaluated individually and then combined to examine their performance in terms of cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. The simulation results show the importance of the building’s orientation, as this directly affects the thermal properties of the walls and openings, as well as the daylighting areas. The simulation results were also used to define the parameters that affect the interoperability of the retrofit solutions. Finally, in addition to the significant reduction in calculation time, the coupling of the CAD software with the energy efficiency software allowed access to information that was not available at the outset.

Keywords: computer-aided design (CAD); public buildings; retrofit scenarios; simulation of energy performance data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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