CLIMATE-DRIVEN BUILDING ENVELOPE OPTIMIZATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEMS USING ENERGY SIMULATION - GREEN MARK, LEED & BREEAM

Abstract

This study seeks to compare the energy efficiency outcomes of buildings designed under different green building rating systems (GBRS): BCA Green Mark, LEED, and BREEAM. Using DesignBuilder's simple box modeling capabilities, the research will develop an energy simulation model that incorporates the building envelope specifications outlined by each rating system. This data-driven comparison will focus on Energy Use Intensity (EUI) as the key performance metric. A comprehensive literature review will first provide a broader understanding of GBRSs, their methodologies, and their role in promoting energy-efficient design. To analyze the impact of climate on optimal strategies, the study will establish a baseline site (Singapore), with additional simulations using weather files for California (LEED) and Birmingham (BREEAM). This multifaceted approach will yield insights into how specific GBRS criteria and climate-driven building envelope optimization can contribute to achieving ambitious energy performance goals. Research Objectives: To develop a simplified, comparative energy simulation model in DesignBuilder, focusing specifically on the energy performance impact of building envelope requirements within Green Mark, LEED, and BREEAM. To simulate building performance within different climatic contexts utilizing appropriate weather files, emphasizing the effects of each rating system's parameters on EUI. To compare and analyze EUI results, illustrating how rating system variations influence energy performance.