BIM-integrated thermal analysis and building energy modeling in 3D-printed residential buildings

• Published in: Energy and buildings 2023-01, Vol.279, p.112670, Article 112670
• Main Authors: Kamel, Ehsan, Kazemian, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building energy modeling; Building information modeling; Construction 3D Printing; Lightweight concrete
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112670

A transformation toward automated construction is happening in the construction industry to lower the construction time, cost, and environmental impacts. Construction 3D printing (C3DP) is one of the high-potential technologies driving digital transformation in the construction industry. Almost all technical advancements and activities in C3DP, however, have been focused on the construction phase. This leads to a knowledge gap about different aspects of the operation phase, such as energy performance. This study develops and evaluates a building energy modeling (BEM) workflow for C3DP based on building information modeling (BIM), using a case study and considering the specifics of 3D-printed buildings. To this aim, multiple scenarios are studied to assess the workflow and measure energy savings. These scenarios include two climate zones in the U.S, normal and lightweight concrete, multiple wall configurations, and building layouts feasible with C3DP, such as curved wall designs. The BIM-to-BEM workflow showed proficiency, and the case study shows that common 3D-printed wall systems cannot meet the minimum requirements of the energy codes, especially in cold climate regions. Yet, compared to an uninsulated 3D-printed building, a properly designed all-electric 3D-printed residential building could lead to 26% lower energy use intensity and 6.35 metric tons lower CO2 emissions.