A Study of Influential Energy Variables on Total Building Energy Performance for Improving Code-Compliant Simulations : Focused on Thermal Characteristics Based on Weather Data and Envelope Configurations

Purpose: In recent years, global building codes and standards have been strengthened to regulate total building energy performance and to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Therefore, this study analyzes the thermal characteristics due to different building envelopes and weather data depending on climate zones using a reference house model to improve the total energy evaluation systems in Energy-Conservative Design Standards. Method: To achieve the objectives of this study, this study first investigated domestic energy modeling standards for residential buildings and developed a baseline model for evaluating the impact of building envelope configurations and weather data in the same climate zones. The simulations were performed in EnergyPlus to quantify the weather-dependent loads, such as heating and cooling energy consumption, in code-compliant simulations. Result: The study identified that the use of different weather data for the same climate zone due to different building sites resulted in significant variations in annual heating and cooling energy consumption as well as heat gains and loss on building exterior surfaces (i.e., roof, walls, slabs). The impact of weather data and envelope configuration differences was greater in wood-frame single-family houses and on heating energy consumption in simulation models. The results of this study will be used as a reference to improve total building performance evaluation models for code-compliance using building energy performance simulations