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A Literature Review on the Use of Weather Data for Building Thermal Simulations

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  • Zhengen Ren

    (Energy Division, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia)

Abstract

Thermal simulations of buildings play a critical role in optimizing energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems design. Accurate weather data is essential for reliable simulations, as local weather and climate have a significant impact on energy requirements for space heating and cooling and thermal comfort. This study conducted a literature review regarding the sources, types, and uncertainties of weather data used for thermal simulations of buildings, including typical meteorological years (TMYs) and extreme weather files under current and future climates. Additionally, this paper evaluates methods for weather data processing, including interpolation, downscaling, and synthetic generation, to improve simulation accuracy. Finally, approaches are proposed for constructing weather files for the future and extreme conditions under a changing climate. This review aims to provide a guide for researchers and practitioners to enhance the reliability of thermal modeling through informed construction, selection, and application of weather data.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhengen Ren, 2025. "A Literature Review on the Use of Weather Data for Building Thermal Simulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:14:p:3653-:d:1699009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Janjai, S. & Deeyai, P., 2009. "Comparison of methods for generating typical meteorological year using meteorological data from a tropical environment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(4), pages 528-537, April.
    2. Zeng, Zhaoyun & Kim, Ji-Hyun (Jeannie) & Tan, Haochen & Hu, Yuqing & Cameron-Rastogi, Parag & Villa, Daniel & New, Joshua & Wang, Jiali & Muehleisen, Ralph T., 2025. "A review of future weather data for assessing climate change impacts on buildings and energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    3. Malte Meinshausen & S. Smith & K. Calvin & J. Daniel & M. Kainuma & J-F. Lamarque & K. Matsumoto & S. Montzka & S. Raper & K. Riahi & A. Thomson & G. Velders & D.P. Vuuren, 2011. "The RCP greenhouse gas concentrations and their extensions from 1765 to 2300," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(1), pages 213-241, November.
    4. Penny Whetton & Kevin Hennessy & John Clarke & Kathleen McInnes & David Kent, 2012. "Use of Representative Climate Futures in impact and adaptation assessment," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 433-442, December.
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