Case Study: University of Adelaide achieves highly calibrated energy independence modeling with Integrated Environmental Solutions

University of Adelaide calibrates building models to 1.37% CV(RMSE) with Integrated Environmental Solutions

The University of Adelaide, via PhD student Rehnuma Parveen, sought to investigate the potential for energy-independent residential buildings in a developing megacity. The challenge was to create a highly reliable virtual building model to accurately study energy efficiency and independence. The project utilized the IES Virtual Environment (IESVE) from vendor Integrated Environmental Solutions for this building performance simulation.

Integrated Environmental Solutions' IESVE was used to calibrate a model of an apartment with real-world measured data. The solution achieved an exceptionally high degree of accuracy, with a calibration of 1.37% CV (RMSE) for hourly indoor air temperature and 7.42% CV (RMSE) for monthly electricity consumption, far exceeding the typical 20% threshold for acceptability. This demonstrated that IESVE could produce a highly calibrated model reliable enough to establish pathways toward energy independence for residential buildings.

University of Adelaide