Responding To Building Energy Analysis And Performance With Building Information Model (BIM)

One rapidly evolving process that has been envisioned to support building energy performance analysis is the Building Information Modelling. Given the ability of Building Information Models to serve as a multi-disciplinary data repository, this dissertation seeks to explore and exploit the sustainability value of Building Information Modelling/models in delivering buildings that require less energy for its operation, emits less CO2 and at the same time provides a conducive living environment for its occupants. This paper’s objective was achieved by a critical and extensive review of literature covering the following areas: (1) building energy consumption, (2) building energy performance and analysis, and (3) building information modeling and energy assessment. Literature cited in this paper show that linking an energy analysis tool with a BIM model helped project design teams to predict and create sustainable construction projects. To buttress this finding, an in-depth analysis was carried out on completed BIM integrated construction projects, including the Masdar Headquarters project, where it was established that BIM-based energy analysis helped the design team achieve the world’s first 103% positive energy building. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that linking an energy analysis tool with a BIM model helps to expedite the energy analysis process, provides more detailed and accurate result as well as delivering energy efficient buildings. The study further recommends that the adoption of level 2 BIM and the integration of BIM in sustainability/energy analysis should be made compulsory for all projects irrespective of the method of procurement (government funded or otherwise) or its size. Keywords—Building Information Modelling, Building energy performance analysis, Sustainability, Energy efficiency.