Energies (Dec 2024)
Digital Twin in the Design and Dynamic Assessment of Energy Performance of Multi-Family Buildings
Abstract
The article explores the potential of Digital Twin (DT) technology in the design and dynamic assessment of the energy performance of multi-family buildings. Traditional approaches to building energy assessment provide static data that do not account for changing operational conditions and lack continuous energy consumption-monitoring capabilities. The use of Digital Twin enables monitoring and analyzing of the building’s energy parameters at every stage of its life cycle. The article presents the application of DT technology for assessing energy performance at the conceptual stage and in the early phases of design. These parameters must meet legal requirements. Validation conducted on four multi-family buildings demonstrated high accuracy, with the average difference between predicted and actual energy performance (EP) values below 3.5%. Thanks to the DT model, it is possible to determine energy parameters already at the conceptual stage, which helps avoid costly changes in later project phases. Early determination of these parameters also allows for accurate estimation of design and investment costs. Tests of the proposed solution were conducted on several multi-family buildings, comparing preliminary data with final results. The research results show that DT technology allows for precise planning of energy performance at the conceptual and preliminary design stages. This reduces operational costs, increases energy efficiency, and better adapts buildings to changing technological and legal conditions.
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