Ricerc@Sapienza

The simulation of the energy consumptions in an hourly regime is necessary in order to perform calculations on residential buildings of particular relevance for volume or for architectural features. In such cases, the simplified methodology provided by the regulations may be inadequate, and the use of software like EnergyPlus is needed. To obtain reliable results, usually, significant time is spent on the meticulous insertion of the geometrical inputs of the building, together with the properties of the envelope materials and systems. Less attention is paid to the climate database.

Climate change is considered an important global threat, with a significant impact on the energy performance, since buildings will be subjected to higher average outdoor temperatures. This article explores the relative impact of global warming across the different regional climates of Europe comparing present and estimated future energy needs of a hypothetical residential house located in 19 cities characterized by different latitude and Köppen-Geiger class.

For the design of new buildings or buildings undergoing major renovations, the use of building performance simulation (BPS) tools is a key instrument to sizing the envelope or to select the best solution to be integrated. Nowadays, many BPS tools are available and are used by researchers and designers, each of which was independently validated, by considering different operating conditions, and rarely were directly compared in the same conditions.