Optimization of an envelope retrofit strategy for an existing office building

Energy-efficient retrofits include improvement of building envelope via insulation, employment of building integrated renewable energy technologies, and climate control strategies. Building envelope improvements with insulation is a common approach, yet decision-making plays an important role in determining the most appropriate envelope retrofit strategy. In this study, main objective is to evaluate and optimize envelope retrofit strategies through a calibrated simulation approach. Based on an energy performance audit and monitoring, an existing building is evaluated on performance levels and improvement potentials with basic energy conservation measures (ECMs). The existing building is monitored for a full year and monitoring data is used in calibrating the simulation model. In order to obtain a better-performing building envelope three retrofit strategies including several ECMs are proposed. Retrofit strategies are simulated through calibrated base-case model, and results are evaluated according to changes in indoor environmental parameters and annual energy consumption measures. The analysis of results indicated that pre-assessed strategies yield close results. Therefore, a more comprehensive evaluation based on different decisive criteria is used in optimization of the final retrofit strategy, with the intention to evaluate the effect of individual ECMs on annual end-use energy consumption and investment.

► Energy performance assessment is vital to evaluate effect of ECMs on consumption. ► Dynamic approaches in building energy performance assessments are significant. ► Monitoring data facilitate further accuracy in evaluating effect of ECMs. ► Calibrated simulation models offer close predictions in building energy research.