Information dependencies between architects and services engineers for early design evaluation : a framework for an energy design tool for architects

摘要

Effective strategies for the design of effi cient and environmentally sensitive buildings require a close collaboration between architects and engineers in the design of the building shell and environmentaludcontrol systems at the outset of projects. However, it is often not practical for engineers to be involved early on in the design process.udIt is therefore essential that architects be able to perform preliminary energy analyses to evaluate their proposed designs prior to the major building characteristics becoming fi xed. Subsequently, a need existsudfor a simplifi ed energy design tool for architects. This paper discusses the limitations of existing analysis software in supporting early design explorations and proposes a framework for the development of a tooludthat provides decision support by permitting architects to quickly assess the performance of design alternatives.