BIM-based Energy Analysis Using Edilclima EC770 Plug-in, Case Study Archimede Library EEB Project

In the recent years, energy efficiency issues as well as Building Information Modelling (BIM) have been the greatest and most challenging paradigms for the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AECO) industry in the context of Smart Cities. Digital models are used to analyse the existing building stock to promote a better management and retrofitting actions. Data modelling is the first step to pursue an integrated approach for the building lifecycle allowing simulations and analysis for different purposes through the interoperability process. This study aims to investigate the potential and the limitations of a BIM-based energy analysis by means of an Italian commonly used software for energy diagnosis and certificates, according to the quasi-steady method specified in the UNI/TS 11300-1:2008. The case study is a library with municipal offices in Settimo Torinese (Italy), which is the demonstrator of the ongoing Zero Energy Buildings in Smart Urban Districts (EEB) national cluster, which has the main scope to create a data management infrastructure able to integrate heterogeneous networks. The energy rate is evaluated from a simplified Revit architectural model, where the most significant components of the building in terms of energy are defined with a proper Level of Detail/Development (LOD) to easily set the energy model through the EC770 plug-in. In this way, the acquisition of geometrical data is allowed by the interoperability among software, speeding up the redundant preliminary phases of the simulation concerning the description of the building envelope.