Parametric environmental design for low energy healthcare facility performance

Osaji, EE; Price, ADF

Abstract

Increasingly challenging climatic conditions could significantly impact on the
environmental performance of healthcare facilities. Current climate and environmental
related challenges are complex which need to be addressed by first analysing the
potential impact of climate change on building performance, and then using this to
develop responsive environmental design solutions. Given the degree of complexity
and the number of multiple variable parameters that need to be considered, the
approach proposed by this paper is referred to as ‘parametric environmental design’.
The evidence to support the development of a proposed parametric environmental
design framework has included related: literature review; multiple case study; post
occupancy evaluation; environmental review; energy use audit; energy performance
benchmarking; thermal scenario development; thermal scenario testing; focus group
workshop; environmental design; and environmental monitoring. This paper focuses
on the thermal scenario development and testing aspects through the use of parametric
modelling and environmental simulation for thermal analysis.
The aim of this paper is to assess the potential role of parametric environmental design
in facilitating low energy healthcare facility design and performance, and this will be
fulfilled through the use of the following methods: literature review and tool testing
for evaluation of the features and capabilities of building information modelling
(BIM), and parametric modelling and environmental simulation tools that support the
development of purpose-built parametric models for thermal analysis; and thermal
scenario development and testing for thermal analysis of 4 purpose-built parametric
models of a healthcare single bedroom for the elderly to be situated in 4 cities in
England.
This paper determined that 4 purpose-built parametric models – all with the same
volume, and representative of a healthcare single bedroom for the elderly (as a sample
of a healthcare facility) situated in 4 cities in England – had differing heating
requirements, and this necessitated active and passive environmental design strategies
and controls to facilitate low(er) heating energy use. Furthermore, parametric
modelling and environmental simulation as an aspect of a proposed parametric
environmental design approach facilitated this assessment.

Citation

Osaji, E., & Price, A. Parametric environmental design for low energy healthcare facility performance. Presented at The 6th International Conference on Innovation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), The Nittany Lion, Pennsylvania State University, USA

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: The 6th International Conference on Innovation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)
• Conference Location: The Nittany Lion, Pennsylvania State University, USA
• End Date: Jun 11, 2010
• Publication Date: Jun 11, 2010
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 11, 2020
• Book Title: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Innovation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)
• ISBN: 9781897911358
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference