Sinchita Poddar et al.

/ Energy Procedia 111 (2017) 226 – 234 229

2.2.
Validation of the Simulation Model

In order to assure the validity of the simulation outcomes, the simulated annual energy consumption results (without
vegetation) were compared with the actual monthly energy consumption data of the studied buildings (Fig. 2). Whole
building energy consumption included all the electricity and gas uses in the building (by lighting systems, HVAC
system, and appliances).

400000 Energy consumption from simulation results Energy consumption from simulation results
80000
Actual building energy consumption Actual building energy consumption

Total Energy (KWh)

Total Energy (KWh)

300000
60000

200000
40000

100000
20000

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Time (Months), 2012 Time (Months), 2012

150000
Total Electrity (KWh)

100000

50000
Energy consumption from simulation results
Actual building energy consumption
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Time (Months), 2012

Fig. 2. Annual building energy simulation profiles (Simulation vs. Empirical Data) for the residential, research and administration facility

A noticeable difference between the simulation results and the actual energy consumption in the coldest months of
the year: i.e. December, January and February has been found for the dormitory. The studied building is equipped
with a solar thermal system and the heat transferred from the solar thermal panel to the building varies with the daily
weather conditions. Considering the research building, the simulation results reported maximum energy use in July,
whereas actual energy profile showed that August is the one having highest energy consumption (Fig. 2), which is
explainable as August was the hottest month of Korea in the year 2012 [13].However, in the weather data generated
from Design Builder simulation, the mean air temperature of July and August found to be quiet similar. However, In
practice, the discrepancies that are being observed between energy models’ predictions and actual building energy use
resulted from a combination of inaccurate assumptions of different occupancy behavioral parameters as well as
technical assumptions related to building technical parameters, irrespective of building functionalitites. Based on the
above mentioned justifications and reasons, authors would like to claim that the simulated energy consumption of the
buildings is pratically reliable and valid. Therefore the same energy models were used to evaluate the other defined
scenarios of green wall intallations.

3.
Results of the performed simulations

3.1.
Dormitory building

For a heating dominant region like Korea, wind shielding effect of vegetation is beneficiary as it ensures a lower
infiltration rate and hence, a lower heating power requirement (Fig. 3 (a)); but during cooling period, wind shielding
can be detrimental since it increases the resistance of convective air film, resulting an increase in building surface
temperature exposed to the sun. Hence, in certain months, reduction of potential natural ventilation might increase
conductive heat gain through green wall (Fig. 3(c). However, the wind-shielding effect of vegetation on cooling is