NZEBs design and simulation: a new tool for dynamic energy performance analyses

In this paper, a novel dynamic simulation model for the building envelope energy performance analysis is presented and validated. Through this tool energy performance and optimization analyses of many new technologies, whose capabilities are considered as crucial features of a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB), can be carried out. In order to study the thermal behaviour of innovative building envelopes and energy performances, with the help of the presented code several output can be obtained, such as heating and cooling peak loads and demands, dynamic profiles of indoor air and building surfaces temperature and heat fluxes, spatial trends of temperature into walls, etc.. In this paper, the most important steps of the applied standard validation procedure (BESTEST), followed with the scope of assessing the reliability and accuracy of this simulation code, are presented. A good agreement between the obtained results and all the reference data of the BESTEST qualification cases is achieved. Finally, as an example, some output of the new simulation code are provide for some test cases.