A Review of Building Simulation Articles

Abstract

In simple terms, building simulation attempts at understanding how a given building operates according to certain criteria (site location, massing, orientation, envelope – fenestrations: size, location, glazing etc.) and enable comparisons of different design alternatives right from its conceptual design stages. Various energy simulation tools are employed to predict the energy performance of a building, assess the energy use and quantify the savings attributable to the proposed design. This became crucial because the building industry is under intense pressure to provide value for money, making sustainable design more important now than ever. Riding on the wings of technology that brought about the introduction of Computer Aided Design (CAD) in the industry from it primitive two-dimensional (2D) base drawing system to the more advanced three-dimensional (3D) parametric modeling as it is found in Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology today, and most recently, a further manipulation of the "Information” inherent in the digital models to perform analysis of proposed buildings in it intended environment under varying conditions. Building simulation make sustainable design practices easier by enabling architects and engineers to more accurately visualize and analyze building performance earlier in the design process. Amidst the vast application of various energy analysis tools in the industry today, this paper presents a review of relevant building energy simulation articles mainly from an architectural perspective, by highlighting the roles they have played in the industry and an overview of what they portend for sustainable design in the nearest future.