Factors Influencing the Energy Consumption in a Building: Comparative Study between Two Different Climates

Abstract

The design of a high energy performance building requires an assessment of the various design options. Energy simulation offers interesting possibilities for clarifying the architect’s decisions at this level, especially in the initial design phases where the greatest opportunities for optimization lie. The aim of this work is to develop an approach for the evaluation and optimal use of energy simulation in the building design phases. To do this, EnergyPlus building simulation software was used to simulate the energy consumption of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering building at “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iasi, in order to identify the factors influencing energy consumption in buildings. The results of this study show that an increase in the cooling setpoint temperature from 22 °C to 28 °C in the roof construction can reduce operating temperatures by 14.2% and 20.0%, respectively. This optimization could significantly reduce the hours of thermal discomfort, in a ratio of 6.0 and 3.25, respectively. Consequently, optimizing parameters linked to design and the heating and cooling systems within the building makes it possible to achieve energy savings and ensure thermal comfort in buildings.