Building Performance Assessment (BPA)

Our aim is to improve existing building performance, without compromising the indoor environment, using Building Simulation Modelling techniques.

What we do

Firstly we create a virtual 3D model of your building to visualise how your building is currently performing.   

We review and re-use as much information as possible from your existing EPCs, Air Conditioning Inspections, Display Energy Certificates, meters and utility bills.

This is a complimentary approach which builds on the existing compliance requirements; by consolidating this existing information into our virtual model we can gain a much greater understanding of how your building is behaving. This gives us a virtual working model that can be used as the basis for informed decision-making both now and in the future.

Through simulation we aim to improve the building performance and reduce costs without compromising the indoor environment. 

We work with existing buildings of all sizes from offices to hospitals using techniques that can identify and deliver significant energy and productivity gains by improving the internal environment for building occupants. These techniques can be used to resolve thermal comfort complaints on individual rooms or whole buildings.

A recently released report ‘Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices‘ issued by the World Green Building Council links thermal comfort and indoor air quality to potential productivity gains of between 8 and 11% for offices.

Productivity improvements can provide far higher returns than when just focusing on energy alone. By combining energy, thermal comfort and productivity you can deliver real lasting value. 

 

How we do it

Using our VABI Elements software, we create a geometrically accurate 3D model of your building. This can then be used to assess your heating and cooling demands on an hourly, weekly, monthly or yearly basis.

This model can then be checked and calibrated using actual data for the site such as your metered consumption and other factors such as operational hours and staff numbers. This process can usually identify lots of opportunities for improvement.

We can often identify simultaneous heating and cooling caused by incorrect set points and conflicts between central and local heating which is not normally easy to detect. The Government already recommends seasonal commissioning as part of its soft landings approach for new buildings. We adopt similar technique for existing buildings.

Having a 3D virtual building model allows us to create and test different scenarios. We can run various simulated scenarios in the software either in the whole building or specific zones or rooms.

Interventions can be tested and checked before making investment decisions and implementing them. We describe this 3D model as a virtual decision making environment.

Because the 3D model allows you to run simulated scenarios, it can provide that essential evidence  that enables clients to make more informed decisions on whether to make proposed changes or not.

For a much lower entry cost, you can remove the risk associated with investing in new technology or physical changes to the building by first simulating their effect upon your buildings consumption figures and its occupants.

Unintended consequences caused by isolated interventions can be avoided. Many a good intention such as improving building fabric or heating systems have resulted in further investment later or increases in consumption and carbon emissions. 

This 3D model can also assist with providing evidence based audit trail of continuous improvement in your ISO 50001 and ESOS assessments.

We can then work with you to improve your building(s) performance by providing monthly or bi-monthly monitoring. We can tailor the monitoring to your needs and performance targets. Ultimately we aim to make a difference for you, your employees and your customers.           

 

Geometry

We can import the geometry from CAD file import, IFC file (BIM data) import using our BIM Connect module, tracing over image files (.pdf/.jpg), SketchUp import. If none of these are available, then you can create the building geometry in the 3D drawing environment.

 

Why we do it

Benefits of having a BPA:

  • A working virtual building model for decision making
  • Identify and quantify energy saving opportunities, establish payback periods 
  • Create better performing buildings, reduce energy consumption and improve productivity
  • Improve employee comfort – thermal comfort, productivity, airflow
  • Resolve complaints, solve thermal comfort issues
  • Complements your existing building certification – DECs, ACEA & EPCs
  • Closes the building performance gap between compliance and actual
  • Simulate the effects of Rationalisation – changes to usage patterns and staff density
  • Simulate changes to operational hours
  • Facilitates informed discussions with suppliers
  • Collation of data in one location
  • Compare the performance of your buildings – Benchmark guidance
  • Part of your ESOS or ISO 50001 strategy
  • Monthly/bi-monthly/seasonal & yearly monitoring to help evaluate ongoing performance
  • Plan, Do, Check

 

Interested in our approach?

Just contact us to for an initial discussion about your requirements.