The application of computer modelling to develop a methodology for ‘existing building’ upgrades to move towards carbon-neutral buildings

dc.check.date10000-01-01
dc.check.embargoformatBoth hard copy thesis and e-thesisen
dc.check.entireThesisEntire Thesis Restricted
dc.check.infoIndefiniteen
dc.check.opt-outYesen
dc.check.reasonThis thesis is due for publication or the author is actively seeking to publish this materialen
dc.contributor.advisorO'Sullivan, Dominicen
dc.contributor.authorMurray, Sean Noel
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-05T09:17:15Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.date.submitted2014
dc.description.abstractThe retrofitting of existing buildings for decreased energy usage, through increased energy efficiency and for minimum carbon dioxide emissions throughout their remaining lifetime is a major area of research. This research area requires development to provide building professionals with more efficient building retrofit solution determination tools. The overarching objective of this research is to develop a tool for this purpose through the implementation of a prescribed methodology. This has been achieved in three distinct steps. Firstly, the concept of using the degree-days modelling method as an adequate means of basing retrofit decision upon was analysed and the results illustrated that the concept had merit. Secondly, the concept of combining the degree-days modelling method and the Genetic Algorithms optimisation method is investigated as a method of determining optimal thermal energy retrofit solutions. Thirdly, the combination of the degree-days modelling method and the Genetic Algorithms optimisation method were packaged into a building retrofit decision-support tool and named BRaSS (Building Retrofit Support Software). The results demonstrate clearly that, fundamental building information, simplified occupancy profiles and weather data used in a static simulation modelling method is a sufficient and adequate means to base retrofitting decisions upon. The results also show that basing retrofit decisions upon energy analysis results are the best means to guide a retrofit project and also to achieve results which are optimum for a particular building. The results also indicate that the building retrofit decision-support tool, BRaSS, is an effective method to determine optimum thermal energy retrofit solutions.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Version
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationMurray, S. N. 2014. The application of computer modelling to develop a methodology for ‘existing building’ upgrades to move towards carbon-neutral buildings. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/2031
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.rights© 2014, Sean N. Murray.en
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/en
dc.subjectBRaSSen
dc.subjectBuilding simulationen
dc.subjectBuilding retrofiten
dc.subjectThermal energy retrofittingen
dc.subjectBuilding retrofit simulation softwareen
dc.thesis.opt-outtrue
dc.titleThe application of computer modelling to develop a methodology for ‘existing building’ upgrades to move towards carbon-neutral buildingsen
dc.typeDoctoral thesisen
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen
dc.type.qualificationnamePHD (Engineering)en
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