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An overview of energy district tools in Europe and the importance of an equivalent heating reference temperature for district simulations
Author(s) -
Dermentzis Georgios,
Schnieders Jürgen,
Pfluger Rainer,
Pfeifer Domink,
Feist Wolfgang,
Ochs Fabian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bauphysik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.166
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 1437-0980
pISSN - 0171-5445
DOI - 10.1002/bapi.201710036
Subject(s) - building envelope , function (biology) , energy conservation , computer science , efficient energy use , architectural engineering , focus (optics) , envelope (radar) , civil engineering , engineering , transport engineering , geography , telecommunications , meteorology , physics , optics , evolutionary biology , thermal , electrical engineering , biology , radar
The international building sector plays an important role on energy policy and reduction of CO 2 emissions. The focus of energy conservation has started from building level and nowadays expands to district, city, region or national level. In this study, an overview, performed within the European project Sinfonia for preparation of a new district tool with focus on energy conservation, will be presented about existing district tools. Several aspects of the tools were included in the overview, such as focus, aim, analytical approach, methodology, geographical coverage, required input data, commercial/freeware, source code, language, tool status, organization/project developing the tool, and web link. The main components of energy district tools such as 3D geographical data, data for building features and properties, and simulation methods were also addressed. Additionally, the issue of appropriate boundary conditions on urban energy analysis, such as user behaviour, will be discussed. A simulation study of a dwelling in various energy standards including different occupant scenarios was performed, and as a result, a formula was developed to estimate an equivalent heating reference temperature as a function of building envelope, living area, and outdoor temperature. Thus, the estimated equivalent heating reference temperature can be used as input in district energy simulations, instead of a constant set point value independent of the building. The present study can serve as a basis for new or further development of tools trying to cover the gap and the limits of the existing ones.