An evaluation of architects' readiness for conducting energy modelling using BIM tools to achieve high energy performance buildings in the UK and Canada

Karjalian Chaijani, M

Abstract

Buildings, consume more than 30% of the world's energy and is the world's largest energy
consuming sector, contributing nearly a quarter of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.
Global warming is the result of emission of greenhouse gases, and this represents a significant
existential crisis. The effective design of buildings is one way to mitigate this issue and this
starts with the design of the building. One of the architect's main responsibilities is the
building’s geometric design, which has a considerable impact on energy consumption.
Building Performance Analysis (BPA) is generally conducted during the later design stages
often in support of the mechanical and electrical design, such as heating and cooling systems.
To achieve a High Energy Performance Building (HEPB), this research considers the
potential impact and implementation of a process which might bring the geometric design
stage and energy analysis stages closer to each other. While architects usually deal with
geometrical design, much of energy performance analysis work is carried out by consultant
energy specialists. However, new BIM tools have the potential to make this stage of analysis
more accessible to architects, who may not have specific building physics knowledge.
The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability of BIM based energy analysis tools to
architects and assess their potential use in early stage energy analysis undertaken by nonspecialist architects. The aim of this research is to evaluate the conditions of the design
process for HEPB in the UK and Canada and develop a series of recommendations to better
enable architects to address energy efficiency in the early stages of the design process by
using BIM tools.
An abductive research approach is used to test existing theories regarding the ability of BIM
to design and analyse green buildings. The survey of UK and Canadian architects identifies
issues such as; standards, underlying knowledge, client demand and the use of BIM tools to
identify applicability of the approach. The results from the study are used to understand the
processes of HEPBs architectural design, including the sources and tools which are used. The
respondents’ familiarity with BIM, its tools and ability for doing tasks in the design and
construction industry, specifically regarding HEPBs design and the potential barriers for
employing BIM are also considered.
The recognised gap in the knowledge is to develop a better understanding of the issues of the
detachment of architects as first designers of buildings involved in geometrical design from
the later stages (Building Performance Analysis) and the possible solutions that might be
provided by BIM tools. The contribution to knowledge of the research focuses around a better
understanding of the specific barriers for the implementation and use of BIM energy analysis
tools by architectural practices which will be achieved through finding weaknesses in the
current process of design process and discovering potential solutions.

Citation

Karjalian Chaijani, M. An evaluation of architects' readiness for conducting energy modelling using BIM tools to achieve high energy performance buildings in the UK and Canada. (Dissertation). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Dissertation
• Deposit Date: Nov 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 17, 2020
• Award Date: Oct 30, 2020