Integration of energy analyses in design through the use of microcomputers

Abstract

Social, economic, and professional forces are compelling architectural designers to evaluate the effects of design decisions upon environmental comfort and energy efficiency in buildings. Siting, massing, locations of functions, facade and fenestration design, and materials are all important determinants of the perceived thermal and luminous environment of a space. However, the combined complexities of the physical processes involved, and of new building types, programs, materials, mechanical systems, utility rates, etc., have made it difficult for designers to develop a "feel" for the impact of these decisions. Consequently, there is a need for analytical tools for use in the design process, which provide the architect with not only an evaluation of comfort conditions or energy consumption, but more importantly an understanding of the interplay between built form and energy flows. In this thesis, some important considerations for the development of such analytical design tools are discussed, and a model proposed. The design process is characterized as "wicked" problem-solving, with constantly changing criteria, conditions, and solutions. This places important requirements for the capabilities of analytical design tools; they must be flexible in use, determine complex interactions of energy flows, and represent these interactions to the designer in a meaningful way. An environmental model is proposed as a framework for structuring a "family" of energy analyses. These analyses look at the transformations of heat and light energy by the built environment at various scales of site, building zone, and body. A designer can manipulate the model in a number of ways; one can look at any single or set of transformations, view the resulting comfort conditions, set constraints upon those conditions, and determine the auxiliary energy and power needed to maintain those constraints. The implementation of this family of analyses is also presented as a group of linked microcomputer programs with emphasis on issues of appropriate interaction between the designer and machine (e.g. interactive graphics, data structures, and flexibility). Finally, one member of the family which has been encoded for the analysis of day lighting is described.