Modelling Software
Software Requirements
The aim of this project was to develop a building stock model for Scotland, to allow a greater understanding of the potential that large scale retrofit could have. To achieve this, we needed to select a modelling program which we believed would provide the most suitable results outputs.
The requirements we had for the software were:
The requirements we had for the software were:
- Based on proven building energy modelling
- Must take into account the a large mix of building types and quality
- Must allow retrofit measures to be specified for the model
- Must be simple enough to allow a large amount of models to be processed within the timescale
Software Requirements
There are a number of different types of modelling software available, with varying depth of modelling. One programme considered here was ESP-r, which can generate a highly detailed and discretised dynamic building model. At the other end of the scale, programmes such as EnergyPLAN generate a detailed model of the entire energy grid. This would rely on a building stock model of the desired resolution already being created, which does not exist for Scotland, so it was decided to not base this project on such high level modelling tools. Following research of the programs available, the options considered for this project were:
ESP-r and PHPP have the benefit of providing dynamic results, however generating results for a high-resolution building stock model would be extremely time intensive. SAP is widely used in industry, however a research paper by the Scottish Government in 2009 concluded that the results of SAP significantly underestimate heat loss when compared to PHPP, which would result in significant errors in our modelling. This therefore left HEM as the most suitable modelling tool for this project. The program is simple enough that the user can generate a large number of models within the timeframe of this project. To add to this, the results are based on data from ESP-r dynamic simulations, which has been extensively studied and proven to be a reliable modelling tool. HEM also generated cost data, which is particularly useful when looking at large scale retrofit schemes.
- ESP-r – highly discretised dynamic simulation
- Detailed and dynamic, however time intensive
- PHPP – simplified building energy simulation with monthly results of energy demand
- Less detailed, still proven, however still time intensive
- SAP – simplified software used in construction industry to determine CO2 emissions of buildings
- HEM – Based on ESP-r results, giving results of building retrofit measures
ESP-r and PHPP have the benefit of providing dynamic results, however generating results for a high-resolution building stock model would be extremely time intensive. SAP is widely used in industry, however a research paper by the Scottish Government in 2009 concluded that the results of SAP significantly underestimate heat loss when compared to PHPP, which would result in significant errors in our modelling. This therefore left HEM as the most suitable modelling tool for this project. The program is simple enough that the user can generate a large number of models within the timeframe of this project. To add to this, the results are based on data from ESP-r dynamic simulations, which has been extensively studied and proven to be a reliable modelling tool. HEM also generated cost data, which is particularly useful when looking at large scale retrofit schemes.