Energy performance assessment based on monitoring and calculation for efficient energy renovation design of existing buildings – MEMOIRE

The methodological approach is focused on three essential points; 1- control of input data of the thermal calculation method, 2 - modeling of the occupant behavior and 3 - sensitivity & uncertainty analysis. The whole for a argued choice of rehabilitation measures and for the evaluation of their estimated impacts within the framework of operational audit of the building.
A first stage consists in using the sensitivity analysis, it enables to screen the model inputs that mostly impact on the output of interest and thus to better estimate the need for specific measurements or extended onsite survey . We adopted for the characterization of these dubious parameters the indirect approache using the inverss methods . The challenge for this part of the project was to arrive at the best compromise between operationnality and precision taking into account the complexity of the system in the concern also of respecting the organisational and human aspects and the technico-economic criteria. the work focused on certain intrinsic parameters.
About the behavior of occupants models , the approach consisted in identifying among existing models those which could be used within the framework of the energy audit, they were then adapted. In addition, we studied the possibility of integrating the points of measurements used for the identification of the parameters.
The approach consisted to test and validate the developments starting from experimental continuously measured data in a office building and to evaluate the contribution of this energy performance assessment method based on monitoring and calculation compared to standard approach of renovation design.
Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis methods were developed to enable to assess the final precision of the model predictions, the energy consumption is no more expressed as a single point estimate but rather as a prediction interval around the expected value for a given confidence level

Two types of results were expected:
- Operational results for submission to the professionals, more particularly for the energy audit of the buildings for powerful rehabilitation: energy renovation design methods of existing buildings in the form of software or encapsulated methods.
The project showed the great difficulty of reaching these operational results whereas the scientific developments started with the project. Most of work consisted in scientifically raising the scientific bolts for consistent methods. The development of operational part of these methods requires complementary investigations which could not be realised. It was not possible to study marketing models of the results because the developed methods are not ready to be encapsulated in a tool distributed in the market. However, the lesson to reach the operational side of the methods developed was identified.
- Results and advanced for the scientific community within the framework of different and diversified applications:
* tool for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis
* tool for identification state-parameters ( inverse method)
* Research report on inverse methods
* Research report on the behavior occupant models
* Protocols of instrumentation for in situ measurements
These results were reached. they are available in reports and scientific articles

Prospects are open for the positioning of our partner SOLAMEN, young research department like referent of the energy restoration: to promote its activities of studies and to evolve to economic models integrating a warranty of performance and a remuneration into “success fairy” for example.
The prospects for continuation of research tasks started in this project are real and also of operational work according to the sectors.

Articles presented to conferences with reading committee: :
* Clima 2013 - Prague
Gautier A. , Lahrech R., Fery A., Charles T., Sensitivity and Uncertainty Quantification Methods for Energy Performance of Buildings – Office Buildings Case Studies
* IBPSA 2013 - Chambery
Lahrech A., Fery A., GautierA. , Lecointre W., Haas B., The use of yearly in seatu measurments of a whole commercial building for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of energy performance assessment
* CLIMAMED 2013 (VII Mediterranean Congress of Climatization), Istanbul, 3-4 october 2013.
GUERNOUTI Sihem, LE GUEN Solenn, El MANKIBI Mohamed and HUMBERT Myriam: « Validation of the stochastic models to generate actual occupancy behavior schedules for accurate prediction of energy consumption »,
Posters :
* presentation of MEMOIRE in SIMUREX, Cargèse 2012

This project aims to develop an audit method based on the combination of measurements and modelling so that relevant renovation solutions can be obtained, leading to effective energy performances after renovation.
What is original in this method, when compared to existing methods, is that it sets out to accurately determine the intrinsic performance of a building on the one hand, and that it aims to assess how a building is used and operates, on the other hand.
The process of identifying the intrinsic thermal characteristics of a building is twofold: a first phase including in-situ measurements and a second phase consisting of inverting thermal and aeraulic models.
The global audit method comprises a thermal behaviour model applied to building whose input data result from developments obtained when conducting the project.
Beyond the scientific development of the method and its validation according to usual procedures, this project provides for the analysis of its economic feasibility together with approval of the method by the various professionals involved. Furthermore, three pilot projects are intended to analyse how the method can be applied on site.
This project falls within the scope of the professionalization of audit and renovation activities in order to ensure the economic relevance of the work proposed, its actual energy efficiency and the approval by the various building users through the positive impacts on both comfort and control of expenses.