Current state and requirements in components and energy systems databases

With the objective to develop a suitable database for the Design4Energy (D4E) workspace, the requirement identification of the component and energy system database started from the analysis of the existing database solutions. The classification, evaluation and analysis of the state of the art of the BIM and energy efficiency oriented database have inspired the requirement identification and also the approach, concept and functionalities design in T3.2. This document then identifies the major related stakeholders of the envisioned platform and project outputs. Taking into account the project objectives and the interests of the analysed stakeholders, this report brings the requirement for simulation outputs which could help the end users or architects to understand the energetic performance of their on-going design, IT requirements in architecture, data structure and interface, as well as the operation and maintenance issues. As another main focus of this document, components and energy systems database (DB) are detailed described. It defines and recommends the parameters for different building components such as wall, roof, floor, windows and doors, lighting system, renewable energy system and HVAC components such as heat pump, boiler, energy storage and distribution. During the research of the database requirement, interviews, questionnaire, literature review, internal discussions with partners and energy experts, investigation of the simulation software and BIM technologies have been the main data sources. The key information presented within this document can be summarised as follows: · Objectives and vision of the component and energy system database. · Analysis of existing database solutions. By classifying the current practices into three categories: construction material database, component database and others such as building type database, different technologies and platforms are analysed. · Identification and analysis of the major stakeholders related to the D4E scope. · Questionnaire design and the collected results · Database requirement in system architecture, interoperability, data structure, user interface and user management. · Database requirement description of the simulation outputs, specifying the interesting data which could help the end users to understand their on-going building design. · Database requirement description of the operation and maintenance related issues. · Database requirement description of building components, including envelope (wall, covers/roof, floor), window and door. The recommended parameters are given in table format. · Database requirement description of energy systems, focusing on the subcategories like lighting system, renewable energy, heat pump, boiler, energy storage and distribution, in each subcategory, requirements for specific technologies are described. Introduction of the strengths and weaknesses of the latest and popular technologies is also included in appendices.