Building Energy Optimization using BIM: A Study on Institutional Building

Abstract

In many facets of the construction industry, including energy management to encourage the development of green buildings, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the contemporary data information platforms and management technologies that is widely employed. The goal of this study was to optimize an institutional building\'s energy consumption by analyzing and evaluating its energy performance using BIM-provided capabilities. The Civil Engineering block of Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College in Tirupati, was taken into consideration for the investigation. The 2D blueprint was obtained from the engineering department and BIM technologies were used to create the necessary building model. The Green Building Studio (GBS) tool and Autodesk Insight 360 were utilized to conduct an energy analysis and derive the energy usage figures. The structural elements that are contributing to the high energy demand, such as the area between windows and walls, the width of the chajja relative to the height of the window, etc., were identified, and the BIM model underwent the required alterations to optimize the energy consumption. Comparing the data obtained in the two aspects, it was found that there was a 30% reduction in energy costs and a roughly 29.76% drop in energy use.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Reducing the amount of energy that buildings use is crucial to curb climate change and improving energy efficiency. In just eight years, there has been a 33% increase in the use of air conditioning and a 7% increase in the energy consumption in buildings [1]. Building energy consumption is caused by a variety of appliances and systems, such as lighting, geysers, air conditioning, ventilation, and electronic devices [2]. The impact of building energy usage on greenhouse gas emissions is just one of the many issues with it. One of the main global sources of carbon emissions is the burning of fossil fuels to power and heat buildings. Buildings are estimated to be responsible for 28% of global carbon emissions by the International Energy Agency [1]. Moreover, excessive energy use can lead to increased energy costs for building owners and tenants, which might put some people in a difficult financial situation.

A sustainable building design solution heavily relies on the use of affordable building envelope components [3]. The solar heat gain and, more frequently, regional characteristics, such as social lifestyle, are the main determinants of energy savings [4]. There are several strategies for reducing the amount of energy used in buildings. Increasing a building's insulation and airtightness is the first strategy. By reducing heat gain in the summer and loss in the winter, a structure with proper insulation and sealing can save a significant amount of energy. Using energy-efficient appliances and lighting is another way to reduce the amount of energy used in buildings. In a similar vein, using high-efficiency heating and cooling technology, such as heat pumps, can reduce energy use and save money. Putting up building automation systems is another way to reduce the amount of energy that a building uses. These systems are able to optimize energy use based on occupancy and other factors. Furthermore, the amount of energy utilized in buildings can be significantly reduced by utilizing renewable energy technology. Solar and geothermal energy systems can be built in order to generate energy locally and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Sometimes buildings can even produce more energy than they consume, a situation known as net-zero energy.

II. BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING

Building Information Modeling, or BIM for short, is a digital modeling method that generates a virtual three-dimensional model of a building, infrastructure component, or facility for performance analysis in the design stage [5]. It is one of the contemporary technologies that is frequently used in many facets of building projects [6]. The model contains details on the structure's operation, design, and functional aspects in addition to its physical elements.

It is a cutting-edge platform for managing data that facilitates the growth of green buildings [7]. The ability to superimpose multidisciplinary data within a single model provided by BIM makes it possible to conduct performance studies and sustainability measurements at every stage of the design process [8].

Energy performance efficiency can be greatly increased by using BIM technology in a variety of ways [9]. Better communication between architects, engineers, and construction professionals is made possible by BIM during the project's design, construction, and operating stages. The model can be used to identify incompatibilities between different systems and components. It can also be used to see the structure in three dimensions and predict how it will react to specific circumstances.

A. Energy Analysis with BIM

Generating a comprehensive and precise model of the structure is one of the primary advantages of using BIM for energy analysis and energy optimization. A building's geometry, materials, systems, and occupancy are just a few examples of the types of data that BIM may collect and assess. By simulating the building's energy performance and consumption under multiple design scenarios, BIM may be utilized to conduct an energy analysis on the structure [10].

Designers and engineers can assess how different design choices affect the structure's energy performance by adjusting elements like the building's orientation, insulation, heating and cooling systems, and lighting. By identifying locations where energy use may be decreased and energy efficiency may be increased, BIM can be utilized for energy optimization. BIM may offer a more thorough picture of the energy usage and performance of the structure, which could aid engineers and designers in determining how to lower the building's carbon footprint and increase its overall sustainability.

B. Objectives

The objectives of this study are:

1. To examine the factors affecting the energy usage in buildings.
2. To identify the building components resulting in more energy consumption and study for the alternatives.
3. To optimize the energy consumption of the building.

III. BUILDING MODELING AND ENERGY ANALYSIS

A. Site Selection

The building chosen for this study is the Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College's institutional building, which is situated in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The campus is an ideal location for optimising building energy consumption due to the large range of buildings with different energy needs.

V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to acknowledge the Engineering department of Mohan Babu University (erstwhile Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College) for their support in providing the necessary building plans and inputs required for the study. Further, we would like to acknowledge the Head of Civil Engineering Department for the support in providing required software to carry out the study.

Conclusion

The following were the conclusions drawn from the above study. 1) Among different parameters HVAC, Window glass, Window shape and PV panel have highest contribution on the energy optimization. Whereas, Orientation, Wall, Roof and Floor have the lowest contribution. 2) Nearly 29.76% and 30.8%, of energy consumption and energy cost respectively are saved by changing the window glass panels, WWR, HVAC PV Panels installation. 3) The study becomes clear that optimising energy use and achieving building sustainability and environmental goals are possible by integration of BIM throughout the design stage.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2024 M. S. Yuvaraj, Shaik Nurulla, D V Purushotham, A Yaswanth Krishna, V Krishna Sai, B Lokesh Babu, P Azaruddin. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.