Designing a BIM energy-consumption template to calculate and achieve a net-zero-energy house

Abstract

BIM is not simply a drafting tool or advanced CAD. BIM is a collaboratively generated and maintained data-rich information source, especially when it comes to the energy-calculation process and beyond. Due to growing awareness around energy conservation, numerous projects and initiatives have occurred to promote the development of low- and net-zero-energy homes. The widespread adoption of photovoltaic rooftop systems has shown that solar homes can be a effective solution to that energy demand; nowadays, the idea that BIM is not just software has been decided upon. In this paper, a new approach was used to calculate energy consumption using a BIM template designed for this purpose. The greatest value derived from BIM was in the template designed to neutralize energy consumption by calculating the number of photovoltaic panels needed to achieve a net-zero-energy house. The BIM prototype developed is considered a useful tool, intended to be used by everyday, non-specialist users to aid and disseminate energy knowledge in order to achieve a zero-energy home, as well as to be used as a decision-support tool, incorporating energy simulation into the early design process of zero-energy buildings in architectural practice. Finally, the tool was tested on a group of users in order to fine-tune and develop the design parameters of the template.