A Simulation Model of Administrative Buildings: Assessing Their Impact on Energy Performance

Abstract

The construction sector is a complex industry whose growth and development are closely associated with overall economic expansion and the circular economy. Within this sector, Building Energy Simulation (BES) is widely employed to evaluate and compare the energy performance of proposed office buildings under both baseline conditions and with alternative heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and domestic hot water (DHW) system configurations. The primary objective of this research was to conduct an energy performance assessment of administrative buildings located in Bratislava, Slovakia. A progressive methodology based on dynamic heat transfer simulation algorithms was applied to evaluate five alternative scenarios (C1–C5). Building performance and heat flow behavior were modeled and analyzed using DesignBuilder software (Version 7). The simulation results revealed that Scenario C5 represents the most effective solution for both administrative building A and administrative building B. From an economic standpoint, Scenario C5 also achieved the lowest energy costs when the DD3 electricity tariff was applied. The DD3 tariff is a dual-rate electricity pricing scheme intended for consumers with higher levels of electricity consumption during off-peak (low-tariff) periods. The findings indicate that a high level of energy sustainability in office buildings can be achieved through the effective implementation of optimized HVAC and DHW systems. Moreover, the integration of energy-efficiency measures contributes to enhanced economic performance by reducing overall energy consumption and associated operating costs.