Benchmarking the Effect of Weather Data upon Energy Estimation of UK Homes

Additional session paper 1, CIBSE Technical Symposium, John Moores University, Liverpool
11-12 April 2013

This paper extends a fundamental dynamic method of assessing the controllability of a building and its servicing systems: IDEAS – Inverse Dynamics based Energy Assessment and Simulation. IDEAS produces results which are calibrated with the UK Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). The extension presented is a measure of the effect upon energy estimation by varying climactic data, using CIBSE TRY/DSY weather data for 14 locations across the UK. A calibrated standard test case dwelling is initially modelled in IDEAS and SAP. Using each of the CIBSE weather locations, the variation in energy estimation of the standard test case dwelling is analysed. Results suggest that use of localised weather data can have a noteworthy effect on energy estimation and can play an important role on delivering buildings which are truly fit for purpose.