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Urban Microclimate and Building Energy Simulation Coupling Techniques

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Urban Microclimate Modelling for Comfort and Energy Studies

Abstract

This chapter presents a review bringing a critical overview of the different ways in which the urban microclimate is currently considered in building design simulations. Therefore, different building energy models (BEMs) and urban climate models (UCMs) are presented. The ways these tools communicate are presented and the impact of UHI and the microclimate is assessed. For example, when conducting simulations neglecting the UHI, the variations can range from 10% to 200% for cooling demand and from 3% to 89% for heating demand with respect to simulations considering the UHI. Microclimate boundary conditions show to reduce loads by 130% for heating and 25% for cooling. The remaining scientific obstacles for better consideration of the urban climate context affecting the BEMs are discussed in this chapter. Some findings are the following: in some papers the boundary conditions of the BEM are only partially corrected; the BEM does not systematically introduce a feedback to the UCM; the simulation for a coupling project is usually launched for some days but longer simulation periods are necessary for an appropriate design of bioclimatic buildings. This could be done with parametric UCM tools. Future work should be about how to validate with experimental measurements the co-simulation results obtained.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The model physics is described in detail in Chap. 13 by Musy, Azam, Guernouti, Morille and Rodler.

  2. 2.

    https://bigladdersoftware.com/epx/docs/8-8/input-output-reference/group-advanced-surface-concepts.html#surfacePropertysurroundingSurfaces.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cerema, Equipe-Projet BPE, Nantes, France

    Auline Rodler, Marjorie Musy, Marie-Hélène Azam & Sihem Guernouti

  2. Université de Bretagne Sud, UMR CNRS 6027, IRDL, Lorient, France

    Nicolas Lauzet & Thibaut Colinart

  3. TRIBU Environmental and Sustainable Development Consulting Agency, Lyon, France

    Nicolas Lauzet

  4. Université Nantes, CNRS UMR 6183, GeM, Nantes, France

    Marjorie Musy, Marie-Hélène Azam & Sihem Guernouti

  5. Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Dasaraden Mauree

  6. BG Ingénieurs Conseil SA, Vernier, Switzerland

    Dasaraden Mauree

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  1. Auline Rodler
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  2. Nicolas Lauzet
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  3. Marjorie Musy
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  4. Marie-Hélène Azam
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  5. Sihem Guernouti
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  6. Dasaraden Mauree
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  7. Thibaut Colinart
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Correspondence to Auline Rodler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Catholic University of the North, Antofagasta, Chile

    Massimo Palme

  2. Brunel University London, London, UK

    Agnese Salvati

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Rodler, A. et al. (2021). Urban Microclimate and Building Energy Simulation Coupling Techniques. In: Palme, M., Salvati, A. (eds) Urban Microclimate Modelling for Comfort and Energy Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65421-4_15

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