Abstract
In Europe, 40% of the total energy is consumed by buildings; in this sense, building performance simulation tools (BPSTs) play a key role; however, the use of these tools by architects is deficient. Therefore, this study aims to detect the architects’ perception on BPSTs. To this end, an online survey was conducted to determine the selection criteria of these BPSTs and non-users, to investigate the reasons for not using the tools. The outcomes showed that there was a wide gap between architects and the management of simulation programs in Spain, mainly due to the lack of training. BPSTs are described as a kind of intellect amplifiers, as they are perceived as powerful allies between professors and students of architecture and between architects and architectural design; therefore, through BPSTs, sustainability is taken very much into consideration to make buildings more energy efficient. Therefore, it is primarily concluded that further and higher education must undergo significant improvement to use simulations as part of the architectural design.
Highlights
Climate change and the scarcity of energy resources are two major challenges in the near future (European Renewable Energy Council, 2010)
This study aims to investigate all those needs that architects have with respect to building performance simulation tools (BPSTs), an online survey, focused on both non-users and users, was conducted
The questionnaire was structured in two parts, so the first one consisted of 59 questions that dealt with the definition of simulation; previous knowledge, uses and objectives of the simulation; university teaching; credibility of the simulations; applications of BPSTs; acquisition of tools; collaboration with other disciplines; solutions to produce an approach in the design field; and proposals for improvement
Summary
Climate change and the scarcity of energy resources are two major challenges in the near future (European Renewable Energy Council, 2010). Countries create policies that allow the construction of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB). In this way, only that which complies with the regulation is built; using energy simulation becomes essential [1,2,3,4]. The human dimension is one of the most important performance indicators since a deep understanding of it allows progress in the development of the simulation [7]. This discipline arose in 1960 when the U.S government carried out projects to evaluate the environment in fallout shelters and, during the
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