Building environmental control
Simulations

Knowing how energy flows in buildings and which factors influence comfort is a fine art. Our specialists in building climatology have mastered it. With the help of the modern simulation tools available today, they can map complex processes in the model and assess them integrally. Integrated into the overall strategy, simulations enable efficient and targeted solutions. This significantly increases the added value of the project.

Dynamic building and system simulation reproduces the thermal behavior of a building on the basis of computer simulation models - usually in relation to one year of operation. The decisive factors such as the respective location, the structural condition and the building services installations, the use and the climatic conditions at the location are taken into account. A dynamic building and system simulation subjects the coordination of the individual trades to a test run as early as the planning stage.

Independent of the planning phase, computer simulations can contribute to a goal-oriented and sustainable planning of buildings and sites. Depending on the problem, thermal-energetic simulations, daylight simulations, as well as numerical flow simulations are used. Our simulation experts will be happy to advise you personally and without obligation on the phone or by e-mail.

Our services

Early stage design in the context of site and building development as well as real estate assessment with analysis of sustainability, grey energy, daylight, photovoltaics, CO2 footprint, land use and energy. Support in concept development with consideration of sustainability certificates such as BREEAM, WELL, SNBS, LEED as well as Minergie.

Solar yield analysis in the urban context of sites and developments. Calculation of the self-consumption quota and degree of self-sufficiency. Consideration of external and internal shading. Potential analysis of daylight utilization and calculation of the daylight quotient. Site analysis with evaluation of SIA2028 (DRY) climate data as well as IPPC climate forecasts (climate warming, urban heat islands) up to the year 2100.

Indoor climate and comfort analysis with evaluation of perceived (operative) temperature, as well as indoor air temperature. Evaluation of indoor air humidity and CO2 concentration. Optimization of low-tech concepts with night cooling and natural ventilation. TABS simulations with analysis of indoor climate. Optimization of switching levels for electrochromic glass. Variant studies of shading measures as well as optimization of glass parameters. Fulfillment of regulatory requirements, such as summer thermal insulation according to SIA180, procedure 3, appendix C1, as well as the cooling demand verification according to SIA382/1, appendix E.

Dynamic calculation of heating and cooling demand according to SIA382/2 for areas, buildings and individual rooms. Calculation of the useful energy demand and balancing of the energy flows. Final and primary energy as well as total energy optimizations. Total annual performances, simultaneity and coverage rates of heating and cooling. Investigation of the demand simultaneity of heating and cooling operation in rooms. Plant simulations for the optimization of heat and cold generation, storage systems as well as waste heat utilization. Coupling of building, plant and geothermal simulations.

Numerical flow simulations (CFD) can represent complex flow phenomena and provide information on local indoor air velocities, indoor air temperatures and thermal comfort according to ISO7730 (PMV, PPD) as well as predict the risk of cold air drop and drafts. CFD simulations can be used to check local concentrations such as CO2 in rooms as well as CO in parking halls according to the SWKI VA103-1 guideline and to optimize mechanical or natural ventilation.

A monitoring of the building services equipment during operation provides the operator as well as the building owner with information about the performance potential of the building. With an analysis of the performance GAP, the operating data are put into context with reference figures from thermal-energetic simulations. This allows deviations from the planning to be identified and deficits to be reduced. Ongoing operational optimization can reduce energy and power consumption and operate the building sustainably. Together with Siemens, Gruner won the buildingSmart Award in the Facility Management category with the Grosspeter Tower: Performance GAP Analysis with Simulation project.