Comparison between Energy Simulation and Monitoring Data in an Office Building

Koldobika Martin-Escudero, Garazi Atxalandabaso, Aitor Erkoreka, Amaia Uriarte and Matteo Porta
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Koldobika Martin-Escudero: ENEDI Research Group, Energy Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Pza. Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Garazi Atxalandabaso: ENEDI Research Group, Energy Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Pza. Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Aitor Erkoreka: ENEDI Research Group, Energy Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Pza. Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Amaia Uriarte: TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Edificio 700 Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain
Matteo Porta: RINA Consulting S.P.A., Via Cecchi 6, 16129 Genova, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-24

Abstract: One of the most important steps in the retrofitting process of a building is to understand its pre-retrofitting stage energy performance. The best choice for carrying this out is by means of a calibrated building energy simulation (BES) model. Then, the testing of different retrofitting solutions in the validated model allows for quantifying the improvements that may be obtained, in order to choose the most suitable solution. In this work, based on the available detailed building drawings, constructive details, building operational data and the data sets obtained on a minute basis (for a whole year) from a dedicated energy monitoring system, the calibration of an in-use office building energy model has been carried out. It has been possible to construct a detailed white box model based on Design Builder software. Then, comparing the model output for indoor air temperature, lighting consumption and heating consumption against the monitored data, some of the building envelope parameters and inner building inertia of the model were fine tuned to obtain fits fulfilling the ASHRAE criteria. Problems found during this fitting process and how they are solved are explained in detail. The model calibration is firstly performed on an hourly basis for a typical winter and summer week; then, the whole year results of the simulation are compared against the monitored data. The results show a good agreement for indoor temperature, lighting and heating consumption compared with the ASHRAE criteria for the mean bias error (MBE).

Keywords: office building; energy simulation; monitoring; calibration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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