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Influence of Input Climatic Data on Simulations of Annual Energy Needs of a Building: EnergyPlus and WRF Modeling for a Case Study in Rome (Italy)

Author

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  • Virgilio Ciancio

    (DIAEE-Area Fisica Tecnica, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Serena Falasca

    (Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 Coppito-L’Aquila, Italy
    Center of Excellence in Telesensing of Environment and Model Prediction of Severe Events (CETEMPS), University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 Coppito-L’Aquila, Italy
    Now at DISPeA, Dipartimento di Scienze Pure ad Applicate, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Campus Scientifico Enrico Mattei, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy)

  • Iacopo Golasi

    (DIAEE-Area Fisica Tecnica, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriele Curci

    (Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 Coppito-L’Aquila, Italy
    Center of Excellence in Telesensing of Environment and Model Prediction of Severe Events (CETEMPS), University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 Coppito-L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Massimo Coppi

    (DIAEE-Area Fisica Tecnica, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Ferdinando Salata

    (DIAEE-Area Fisica Tecnica, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The simulation of the energy consumptions in an hourly regime is necessary in order to perform calculations on residential buildings of particular relevance for volume or for architectural features. In such cases, the simplified methodology provided by the regulations may be inadequate, and the use of software like EnergyPlus is needed. To obtain reliable results, usually, significant time is spent on the meticulous insertion of the geometrical inputs of the building, together with the properties of the envelope materials and systems. Less attention is paid to the climate database. The databases available on the EnergyPlus website refer to airports located in rural areas near major cities. If the building to be simulated is located in a metropolitan area, it may be affected by the local heat island, and the database used as input to the software should take this phenomenon into account. To this end, it is useful to use a meteorological model such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to construct an appropriate input climate file. A case study based on a building located in the city center of Rome (Italy) shows that, if the climatic forcing linked to the heat island is not considered, the estimated consumption due to the cooling is underestimated by 35–50%. In particular, the analysis and the seasonal comparison between the energy needs of the building simulated by EnergyPlus, with the climatic inputs related to two airports in the rural area of Rome and with the inputs provided by the WRF model related to the center of Rome, show discrepancies of about (i) WRF vs. Fiumicino (FCO): Δ = −3.48% for heating, Δ = 49.25% for cooling; (ii) WRF vs. Ciampino (CIA): Δ = −7.38% for heating, Δ = +35.52% for cooling.

Suggested Citation

  • Virgilio Ciancio & Serena Falasca & Iacopo Golasi & Gabriele Curci & Massimo Coppi & Ferdinando Salata, 2018. "Influence of Input Climatic Data on Simulations of Annual Energy Needs of a Building: EnergyPlus and WRF Modeling for a Case Study in Rome (Italy)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:10:p:2835-:d:177105
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