Building performance simulation (BPS) is the process of imitating/predicting aspects of building performance with computational building models. The models draw heavily upon the disciplines of heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, light transmission, and occupant behaviour. BPS allows improving the design and operation of buildings through quantitative analyses.
This course will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively apply BPS tools in design and analysis contexts focusing on building heating and cooling loads, building HVAC systems, and whole-building HVAC energy consumption. In addition, various building science research methodologies and examples based on BPS will be presented. As the course project, students will be required to either perform building thermal/energy analysis of real buildings with BPS or conduct research on building science topics with BPS.