Thermal Model Validation Process for Building Environment Simulation: A Case Study for Single-Family House

Abstract

Currently, more and more emphasis is being placed on reducing energy consumption in buildings to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Building performance simulation is very useful to predict energy demand and indoor environment quality. An indispensable element of the simulation is the validation and calibration of the model, which is an arduous process. The aim of the study was to present a four-level validation (using measurement results) and calibration of a thermal model of a naturally ventilated single-family house. Numerical calculations using co-simulation between EnergyPlus and Contam were performed. The results of the one-year simulation measurements of the indoor temperature and ventilation airflows were compared. After the calibration was performed, a high convergence of the results was found. The normalized mean bias error for hourly and monthly values did not exceed 1% and the coefficient of variation of the root mean squared error was a maximum of 7% with a simultaneous high correlation of the results in the range from 0.85 to 0.89. It was found that the final results were significantly influenced by the appropriate modeling of air exchange in the building, including the opening of windows.