What are the limits for well-designed building performance models?

Should we move away from the "modelled versus measured" debate and instead use models to compliment, not replace, real energy performance data?

Building performance models and simulation play an increasingly important role in our investigations of building energy performance. Even with a welcome growth in real empirical data of building energy use, our understanding of climate change adaptation, low-carbon refurbishments and many aspects of building design can be improved through appropriate use of building models. However, all too often a combination of poor models and/or poor modelling can give a misleading impression of how a building is actually performing.

This unique book takes a critical approach to current building modelling practice, and the way these models are interpreted. A wide range of real models and actual building performance data are analysed to reveal some novel uses of building performance simulation that are sensitive to the limitations of applying theory to practice. Readers are given modelling and calculation exercises, as well as case studies, to illustrate these techniques in action. The use of steady-state, dynamic, and transient models is examined to provide a valuable new perspective on energy modelling for professionals and students of building modelling, energy efficiency, building design, and architecture.