Homes and offices of the future: New simulation tool promises massive energy savings.
A new simulation model was created to analyze how well different building materials and designs can save energy. The model shows how much heating and cooling a building needs, as well as the temperature changes inside and outside. It was tested and found to be accurate compared to other standard tools. The researchers used the model to study three types of buildings in various weather conditions. They found that the results were almost always within 10% of the other tools' results. This means the new model is a reliable way to test energy-saving ideas for buildings.