Instructional Modules Demonstrating Building Energy Analysis Using a Building Information Model

The design and analysis of buildings require a high level of collaboration and coordination among the disciplines of architecture, engineering, and construction. Efficiencies can be gained through the sharing of data across disciplines; however, this prospect has not been fully realized. Traditionally, building energy models have been created separately from architectural building information models (BIMs), and energy analyses have relied on a single analysis tool. By leveraging existing data from the BIM, energy models can be generated more quickly and the use of multiple analysis tools is more practical. A set of three instructional modules is used to demonstrate BIM-based methods of building energy analysis and simulation. The workflow leverages existing data in the architectural model for energy analysis, as opposed to creating separate models within each analysis program. Autodesk Revit Architecture is used to create a building information model based on a residential dwelling designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Relevant data from the building information model is exported to two separate analysis tools - Autodesk Ecotect and DesignBuilder. Ecotect is used to provide early feedback on weather, heating and cooling loads, and heat loss information, and DesignBuilder is used to evaluate the effect of adding various energy conservation measures (ECMs). The two programs are used in conjunction to analyze the effects of solar orientation and passive solar design elements. The BIM data is able to successfully generate the two external energy analysis models. Some issues are encountered in the process of importing BIM data into the analysis tools; however, all issues are able to be resolved. The features of the BIM workflow found to add the most value are the ability to export building geometry and thermal zone information and the ability to use material take-offs for comparing the cost of design alternatives. Simulation results from Ecotect and DesignBuilder show a 15% difference in annual heating and cooling energy between the best case and worst case passive solar design strategies. Results from the DesignBuilder ECM study indicate that a total energy savings of 21% can be achieved cost-effectively compared to a baseline design, for a 10-year time horizon.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Systems & Entrepreneurial Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Douglass, Christian D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Leake, James M.

• building information modeling
• building energy simulation
• parametric solid modeling
• Autodesk Revit Architecture
• Ecotect
• DesignBuilder
• EnergyPlus
• instructional modules
• engineering education

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Christian D. Douglass

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18219

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/18219