Energy Evaluation Workflow: Overview
For successful evaluation, the building model must contain at least the enveloping structures and fenestration, as well as all major internal structures that represent significant heat storage mass.
Furthermore, ARCHICAD zones must be placed in every conditioned space of the building, since the model’s geometry analysis is based on these ARCHICAD zones.
The Energy Model Review works only on visible elements, so you must define an ARCHICAD view dedicated to the energy model. Use layer visibility to achieve the view you need. Make sure that zones are visible.
Note: Marquee selection does not filter building elements for the purpose of Energy Model Review.
Spaces are represented by 3D Zones in the ARCHICAD Building Energy Model. For Energy Evaluation purposes, you will group these Zones together in “thermal blocks”, using the Thermal Blocks page of the Energy Model Review palette (Design > Energy Evaluation > Energy Model Review).
The Energy Model Review palette is the main user interface of ARCHICAD’s Energy Evaluation function. Use the palette to edit the input data for the building energy simulation, as well as to add information:
Note: Most space boundary properties are extracted from the architectural model by the automatic model geometry and material property analysis functionality of ARCHICAD. Space boundary property settings allow users to fine-tune this data and add information that does not come directly from the architectural building model.
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Environment Settings: Provides links to the Project Location, Climate Data and Wind Protection dialogs. Grade level, Soil and Surrounding surface types are also set here.
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Operation Profile: Select the building’s function(s) to assign related Internal temperature and heat gain profiles in the Operation Profile dialog. If needed, customize an Operation Profile to fine-tune occupancy according to local regulations or to match actual building usage.
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Building Systems: Provide information essential for the energy calculation, regarding the building’s MEP Systems (for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water generation)
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Finally, in order to enable primary energy, CO2 emission and energy cost calculations, define the Energy Source Factors and Energy Costs, using the dedicated dialogs.
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Click the Start Energy Simulation button of the Model Review palette to start the Energy Performance Evaluation of your project. The built-in, certified VIP-Core engine executes the dynamic energy simulation that calculates the building’s hourly energy balance and outputs a Building Energy Evaluation Report. The report contains information such as the project’s energy-related structural performance, yearly energy consumption, energy balance and carbon footprint.