The Smart Buildings and Energy Efficiency service provides an integrated solution for optimizing building microclimates, enhancing energy efficiency, and minimizing environmental impact. This is achieved through:
- Efficient Microclimate Control: Advanced monitoring of thermodynamic energy balance and energy consumption tracking.
- Seamless Integration: Ensuring compatibility across different equipment providers for unified data and control.
- Predictive Algorithms: Implementing alerting systems and AI-driven analytics to reduce power losses and improve sustainability.
To achieve these objectives, the service leverages Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin technologies, combined with a deep understanding of building physics and digital simulation tools.
Energy Demand and Comfort Requirements
The energy demand of a building is primarily driven by interior space comfort requirements, which include:
- Visual Comfort: Illuminance levels between 200-500 lx.
- Thermal Comfort: Indoor temperatures maintained at 20-25ºC with 40-60% relative humidity.
- Air Quality:
- Air Quality Index (AQI) between 0 and 50.
- 1.5-2 air changes per hour.
- CO₂ concentration between 350-500 ppm.
- Fine particle concentration below 50 μg/m³ (PM10) and 25 μg/m³ (PM2.5).
- Acoustic Comfort: Noise levels within 35-40 dB.
Building Performance Estimation
A common method for evaluating building performance involves computational modeling, where input parameters are processed using thermodynamic algorithms to simulate heat transfer through:
- Conduction (solid material heat transfer)
- Convection (fluid mass transfer)
- Radiation (UV, visible, and infrared heat exchange)
- Latent Loads (moisture-related energy changes)
One of the most advanced simulation tools for this purpose is Energy Plus, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. This software is integrated into various graphical interfaces and requires the following input data:
- Building Geometry
- Climate Data
- Site Orientation & Local Shading
- Building Enclosure & HVAC System Details
- User Behavior & Occupancy Schedules
- Automation & Control Systems