Energy Modelling

We use a combination of proprietary software and bespoke computer programmes to provide detailed energy load analysis.

Proprietary software is excellent at modelling heat flows into and out of buildings, tracking solar gain through windows and calculating re-irradiated heat from concrete slabs and so on, but they can be limited when it comes to modelling the nuances of building services plant - especially now when increasingly the building services systems are to be linked to renewable energy supplies. Optimising and integrating all of these system interfaces should be a project-specific task and this often calls for project-specific tools.

We have developed a large array of post-processing macros and algorithms that take the data from the proprietary thermal model and simulate the behaviour of building services systems. We model part-load performance of cooling coils, chillers, boilers, fans and so on together with the energy output of renewable systems such as solar-thermal, wind and photovoltaics.

We have also developed tools to specifically address planning applications and energy masterplanning. At these very early stages of the design process, there are often no architectural drawings, just a schedule of floor areas and building types. In these circumstances, conventional modelling is useless. But increasingly energy strategies are required from the outset.