Coupling simulation system of annual building energy and microclimate

We have developed a simulation system for a year-round assessment of environmental comfort, energy conservation, and CO₂ emissions in buildings and street blocks where active utilization of sunshine, vegetation and solar energy resources is fully considered. An analysis model has been constructed for handling interactions between highly complex street-block wide solar radiation patterns and building air-conditioning load. As a demonstration case of the present system, coupled solar radiation-thermal load analysis for an eleven-story office building has been performed. By comparing the result of a building located in a city block with a reference case of a self-standing building, the proper arrangement of buildings and spaces such as solar reflectance of building surface may be proposed.