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EnerCalC – Simplified energy balancing to DIN V 18599
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Balancing a building in accordance with DIN V 18599
© Bergische Universität Wuppertal
The energy balancing of buildings according to DIN V 18599 has been frequently criticised because of its complexity and time-consuming application. Calls to simplify the process came soon after the pre-standard series was first published. As part of a research project, the Excel-based EnerCalC tool has now been developed that is particularly suited for characterising buildings in terms of their energy use during the preliminary design phases. With relatively little input expenditure, EnerCalC enables the energy performance requirements for a building to be balanced in accordance with DIN V 18599, since, in addition to inputting building-related data, it also enables up to 11 different zones to be defined. Furthermore, the program enables simplified primary energy balancing and provides information for designing the respective building as a "net-zero-energy building".
Technology summary
| Term of project | - 10/2010 |
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| Download at | |
| Terms of use | Freely available for research, teaching and all non-commercial applications |
| Key aspects |
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Project description
The energy balancing of a non-residential building generally requires extensive zoning of the building and, in relation to this, time consuming determination of the zone-related envelope. With EnerCalC, the building envelope is recorded on the basis of a single-zone model, whereas the energy balancing takes place in the multiple-zone model. For this purpose, in the first method the surface area of the building envelope is divided proportionately across the individual zones (simplified procedure). Particularly for partially air-conditioned buildings, the preciseness of the results can be increased by additionally defining the actual orientations of the zone-related surface areas of the building envelope (extended procedure).
The simplification approach is based on assigning the envelope surface to the individual building zones based on the proportional zone area. In a further stage, it is possible to make a more precise allocation. The preciseness of the results can be increased even further by defining main orientations for individual zones. Additional spreadsheets enable the amount of detail to be increased as required.
In its implementation as a spreadsheet, the energy target values for a building are graphically depicted immediately on entering or changing the data. A reference building to EnEV and a building that is exemplary in terms of its energy use serve as example buildings.
What has been achieved until now?
The EnerCalC Excel tool was created as part of a dissertation written for the Department of Building Physics and Technical Building Services at the University of Wuppertal and was used to develop and validate simplification methods based on the balancing rules provided by DIN V 18599. The tool is based on Excel and uses macros. It runs with the Excel 2007 and 2010 PC versions, whereby the execution of macros must be enabled.
The tool considerably reduces the necessary inputs and provides much more flexibility. This therefore encourages its earlier use during the design and conceptual phases in order to determine the basic energy-related characteristics of the building. It is also suitable for providing a rough, energy-based characterisation of existing buildings if there is a lack of detailed information.
Project partners
EnerCalC was developed as part of a dissertation written by Markus Lichtmeß. This dissertation, which is entitled “Vereinfachungen für die energetische Bewertung von Gebäuden“ (simplifying the energy-oriented assessment of buildings), is available in German as a PDF document.
Next steps
The tool is being continually updated and further developed.
Application-ready product
EnerCalC is freely available for research, teaching and all non-commercial applications. It can be downloaded free of charge from the EnerCalC website, including online tutorials and ordering options.
