Integrated design approach studies towards Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Malta : climate-based simulations to improve the daylighting and thermal comfort performance of a building occupied by public authorities at the early stages of the design process

Abstract

The current Maltese legislation regarding energy performance of buildings states that by 31st December 2018, buildings occupied and owned by public authorities must achieve the Nearly Zero Energy Building status (nZEB). Currently the local energy code which would duly set up the minimum requirements for a new-built nZEB in terms of its overall efficiency of building-plant system is still at its infancy as a national plan: indeed, it has only set out a maximum primary energy limit. Scope of this publication is to explore the advantages of using design performance modelling (DPM), for climate-based simulations, at the early stage of the design process to predict the variability of daylighting and thermal comfort metrics for various design options and their impact on space heating, space cooling needs. Daylighting and thermal comfort studies results will be presented following the EU Level(s) reporting tool template and compared to the minimum requirements of an international green rating scheme for new constructions. The predicted energy performance figures of the chosen option will be based on the design-rating of the building according to ISO 13790, based on the selected energy efficient systems and integrated by Renewable Energy Systems.