Whole Building Energy Analysis using BIM

Proc. of Int. Conf. on Advances in Civil Engineering, AETACE Whole Building Energy Analysis using BIM Ashwin Venkataraman1 and Ramesh Kannan.M2 1Division of Structural Engineering, School of Mechanical and Building Sciences VIT Chennai, Chennai 600127, India ashwin.venkat2012@vit.ac.in 2Division of Structural Engineering, School of Mechanical and Building Sciences VIT Chennai, Chennai 600127, India rameshkannan.m@vit.ac.in Abstract The current methods and techniques for running energy simulation of buildings are time consuming, difficult to perform and lack high interoperability between the theoretical and the actual energy data. Thus an intriguing technique known as Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be used as an alternative. The BIM is the parametric change concept allowing the AEC firms to more effectively implement the sustainable design and to enhance greater building energy efficiency. The objective of this research is to develop a new methodology so as to produce automatic energy estimates from 3D BIM model developed using AutodeskTM Revit 2013. In this research a 3D BIM model of G+2 building is used as a reference for executing the energy simulations in the six major climatic zones (Cold and Sunny Zone, Cold and Cloudy Zone, Warm and Humid Zone, Hot and Dry Zone, Compoiste Zone and Moderate Zone) of India. Initially the 3D BIM model is used for assessing energy efficiency of the building on passive solar conditions for the six zones and the performance and improvement for the sustainability considerations are identified and recorded. Later the same model is used for energy simulation for the active solar strategies, since BIM has parametric change capabilities. Finally, the observations are tabulated and the different criteria for the sustainable design implementation and further improvement of different climatic zones are illustrated. The results obtained are the derivation of energy simulation patterns for different climatic zones in addition to the performance indicator, luminous intensity and other energy related factors. Index Terms Building Information Modeling (BIM), climatic zones, energy simulation, passive solar, sustainable design and whole building energy analysis I. INTRODUCTION The Building Life Cycle defines the entire life of a building from design, through conception, occupancy and on to eventual demolition as shown in Fig. 1. This creates a need for long term energy efficient designs to be present in all buildings. Thus in most of the construction companies, they use sophisticated energy simulation and analysis packages [1]. However they are difficult to handle, costlier and moreover they could not account for assessing all the energy characteristics of energy efficient strategies in a building. Thus an intriguing technique which will be used for the comprehensive energy simulation and analysis is highly regarded [1][4][5]. One such technique is the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) [1][3]. Elsevier, 2013

II. BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING The Building Information Model (BIM) is a reliable digital representation of the building available for design decision making, high-quality construction documentation, construction planning, performance predictions and cost estimates [3]. The BIM provides up-to-date and reliable information of the project design, cost information, schedules, energy analysis, structural design, etc, necessary for the construction projects [3]. Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of Building Information Modeling The fundamental characteristic of BIM software is the ability to coordinate changes and maintain consistency. Many software helps the designers to create a 3D digital model of a building while also providing 4D information and 5D information and other related performance analysis such as structural analysis, energy analysis, etc., as in Fig. 1. The most commonly used powerful BIM software is Autodesk TM Revit 2013 and hence used in this research [1][3][4][6]. III. ENERGY EFFICIENCY Buildings as they are designed today, contribute to serious environmental problems because of excessive consumption of energy. The close connection between energy use in buildings and environmental damage arises because of energy-intensive solutions sought to construct a building and its demands for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting cause severe depletion of invaluable environmental resources [1]. Energy resource efficiency in new constructions can be affected by adopting an integrated approach to building design [2][4][5]. The primary initiative steps adopted in this research to achieve the above strategies are as follows. Incorporation of solar passive techniques in a building design to minimize load on conventional systems. Passive systems provide thermal and visual comfort by using natural energy sources, e.g. solar radiation, outside air, wet surfaces vegetation, and internal gains Enhancing energy flows in these systems are by natural means such as radiation, conduction, and convection with minimal or no use of mechanical means. The solar passive systems vary from one climate to the other Designing energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems once the passive solar architectural concepts are applied to a design. The load on conventional systems is reduced. Further, energy conservation is possible by judicious design of the artificial lighting and HVAC systems using energy-efficient equipment, controls, and operation strategies 936

Usage of renewable energy systems (solar photomosaic systems I solar water heating systems) to meet a part of building load Thus it is highly important to enhance energy efficient structural design, reduction of usage of transportation energy and high energy building material and to use low energy building materials [3][4][5]. IV. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE This research seeks to confirm two main objectives and is as follows. To visually present the project idea in 3D Model using the BIM (Building Information Modeling) Software Autodesk Revit 2013. Since these could not be visualized in a broader sense and quantifiable. To conduct whole building energy simulation for the six major climatic zones in India and to evaluate the benefits and to optimize the energy efficiency of the buildings [1]. V. RESEARCH SCOPE The project boundaries adopted for this project are as follows. The energy efficiency design of a simplified G+2 building is only considered for this research. The energy efficient materials adopted for this research are materials that are commonly available in India, the usage of imported energy efficient materials are strictly avoided since it involves transportation energy associated with it besides economy and moreover we consider the whole-energy strategies in this research [1]. VI. ZONAL ANALYSIS Analyzed according to the Köppen system, the climate of India resolves into six major climatic subtypes; their influences give rise to desert in the west, alpine tundra and glaciers in the north, humid tropical regions supporting rain forests in the southwest, and Indian Ocean island territories that flank the Indian subcontinent. Thus India is divided in six main climatic zones as follows. 1. Cold and Cloudy Example: Leh, India (34.15 N, 77.57 E) 2. Cold and Sunny Example: Shimla, India (31.1033 N, 77.1722 E) 3. Composite Zone (Combination of 1 and 2) Example: Punjab, India (30.7900 N, 76.7800 E) 4. Hot and Dry Example: Jaipur, India (26.9260 N, 75.8235 E) 5. Moderate Example: Bengaluru, India (12.9667 N, 77.5667 E) 6. Warm and Humid Example: Chennai, India (13.0839 N, 80.2700 E) VII. ENERGY ANALYSIS OF BUILDING USING BIM To develop building energy simulation in the 3D BIM Model, the following procedures are adopted. 1. Developing a 3D BIM (Solid Model) of the structural systems, using the Autodesk TM Revit 2013 or developing the 3D Model of the structural system using Autodesk TM Revit 2013 or any other 2D CADD software [2], then it is incorporated in BIM software to develop the 3D BIM (Solid Model) as shown in Figs. 2-4. 2. Set the project boundary and location in the project browser in the Autodesk TM Revit 2013. 3. Analyze the 3D BIM by the analysis tab in the Autodesk TM Revit 2013 [1][6]. 4. Run the simulation and tabulate the result. Once it is done take that for evaluation. 5. Conduction of parametric change characteristics of material properties associated with the 3D BIM model and incorporates change to develop energy efficient structures [1][6]. This 3D BIM model was analysed and set as a reference for the analysis and comparison of the energy simulation result for individual zones with the test structure [1][6] with standard temperature, pressure and energy conditions Figs. 5-11. 937

Figure 2. 2D Floor Plan of G+2 Building 3D BIM Model Figure 3. 2D Elevation of G+2 Building 3D BIM Model A. Zone 5 Hot and Dry Zone Jaipur, India Figure 4. 3D BIM Solid Model of G+2 Building Figure 5. Sun Path Diagram for Hot and Dry Zone Jaipur (26.9260 N, 75.8235 E) 938

Figure 6. Solar radiation simulation of the BIM Model Figure 7. Cooling simulation of the BIM Model Figure 8. Artificial Cooling System for Hot and Dry Zone Figure 9. Wind scoop system for passive downdraft evaporative cooling for Hot and Dry Zone 939

Figure 10.Final solar radiation simulation of the BIM Model Figure 11. Final cooling simulation of the BIM Model VIII. RESULT Similarly all the other zones were analysed using different climatic conditions stated above and various parametric changes are accordingly applied to provide us with the optimum energy efficiency. Thus these Energy simulation contours visually present the energy changes and its corresponding effects. These should be reported to building energy design data. The following is the important details obtained after the simulation test that could be imported in the building for achieving maximum energy efficiency [2]. TABLE I. DESIGN AND OPERATION PARAMETERS FOR COLD AND CLOUDY CLIMATE LOCATION DESIGN PARAMETERS OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS SHIMLA Glazing type Single pane clear glass, Single pane reflective coated glass, Double pane clear glass Wall type Concrete block wall, Autoclaved cellular concrete block wall Wall colour White, Dark Grey Roof type RCC with brick-bat-coba waterproofing Building Orientation Northwest-southeast, East-west, North-south, Northeast-southwest Air exchange (ach) 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 Shading (% of window area) 0, 10, 20, 50 Set point ( C) Cooling 24, 25 Heating 21, 20 Thus the design and operation parameters with the energy efficiency factors can be obtained automatically for the other climatic zones using the 3D BIM and the total annual energy saving of each zones are shown in Figs. 12-17. Figure 12. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Cold and Cloudy zone 940

TABLE II. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARAMETERS FOR COLD AND CLOUDY CLIMATE ZONE PARAMETER SHIMLA ANNUAL LOAD (GJ) ENERGY SAVING (%) BASECASE 3120.65 N.A. GLAZING SIZE (restricted to 1.2m height) 2751.93 11.8 GLAZING TYPE Single clear 3160.61-1.3 Double clear 2619.89 16.0 Double low-e 2476.30 20.6 Double reflective coated 2491.97 20.1 INTERNAL GAIN 10% 4250.06-36.2 50% 3559.51-14.1 ORIENTATION (longer axis) North-south 3221.75-3.2 Northeast-southwest 3196.95-2.4 East-west 3188.39-2.2 SETPOINT cooling: 25 C - heating: 20 C 2710.87 13.1 SHADING 10% 3118.56 0.1 20% 3118.35 0.1 50% 3129.07-0.3 Figure 13. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Cold and Sunny zone Figure 14. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Composite zone 941

Figure 15. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Hot and Dry zone Figure 16. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Moderate zone Figure 17. Overall reduction in the energy consumption of Warm and Humid zone IX. CONCLUSION One of the main reasons for the lack of uptake of this technique by building designers is the perceived (and real) complexity associated with the building energy simulation tools [6], which many rightly assume to involve a steep learning curve before they can be properly utilised. This would involve a loss of man-hours to the consultancies for something that at the moment is seen as more of an optional extra for the client than as a 942

necessary step in the design process [5]. While it can be true that some of these tools are currently inaccessible to inexperienced users the interfaces or these tools are improving and the future penalties resulting from not using energy simulation far outweigh the cost of man-hours needed to adapt to this design method [1]. Another large problem with convincing consultancies to adapt to the use of these programs is their dependency on the traditional methods of prescriptive design [6][4]. The companies which utilise energy simulation software the most successfully will be the ones attracting the greater number of clients as energy simulation models become a deliverable in every project proposal. If larger consultancies start to incorporate these methods into their design process then the smaller companies will follow to remain competitive [1]. If the larger companies can ensure interoperability between the software used by their various departments, it will enable a seamless integration of the use of BIM throughout the building life cycle [6] and thus lower costs and penalties that would have otherwise been incurred. A. Further Research Due to increasing emphasis on climatic change, the energy aspect of building performance assessment becomes a trend to fulfilled building sustainability. This paper proposed is using the BIM model to evaluate the building energy performance with three separate yet correlated models, design construction and energy analysis. BIM technology is optimizing energy efficient design and turned out a positive result. The methodology described in the paper can pave a path for future study. The 3D BIM model of G+2 building developed for this research is a generic and generalized model however for advanced research on energy simulation, more complex 3D BIM models are to be developed for exploring additional energy characteristics. REFERENCES [1] Ashwin Venkataraman and M. Ramesh Kannan, Building Energy Simulation using Building Information Modeling, 5 th International Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, India, 2012. [2] Aslam Chanda and M. Ramesh Kannan, Development of computerized LEED rating of building as per LEED-India certification, National Conference on Advanced Trends in Civil Engineering, Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore, India, 2013. [3] Ciddarth and M. Ramesh Kannan, Energy efficiency of a building as per National Building Code 2005 (Part 8) using BIM, National Conference on Advanced Trends in Civil Engineering, Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore, India 2013. [4] Gokulavasan, M., M. Ramesh Kannan, Energy Auditing of a Building using Green BIM, International Journal of Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture & Design, International Academy for Science & Technology Education and Research, vol.1, pp. 7 15, September 2013. [5] A. Krishna Prakash, A.D.Thirumal Vijai and M.Ramesh Kannan, Comprehensive Lighting and Ventilation Design of a Building as per SP 41 (Part 3&4) using Building Information Modeling, International Journal of Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture & Design, International Academy for Science & Technology Education and Research, vol.1, pp. 28 38, September 2013. [6] M. Ramesh Kannan and G.M. Samuel Knight, Constructability The Paradigm Shift in the Construction Engineering and Management, International Conference on Emerging Technology Trends on Advanced Engineering Research, Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, Vol.2, pp.1-8. February 2012. 943