Modelling Methods for Energy in Buildings - by Chris Underwood & Francis Yik (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Climate change mitigation and sustainable practices are now at the top of political and technical agendas. Environmental system modelling provides a way of appraising options and this book will make a significant contribution to the uptake of such systems. It provides knowledge of the principles involved in modelling systems, builds confidence amongst designers and offers a broad perspective of the potential of these new technologies.

The aim of the book is to provide an understanding of the concepts and principles behind predictive modelling methods; review progress in the development of the modelling software available; and explore modelling in building design through international case studies based on real design problems.

From the Back Cover

Buildings consume between 40% and 60% of all energy use in most developed economies - and an increasing proportion in developing and emerging ones. Climate change mitigation and sustainable practices are now at the top of political and technical agendas worldwide.

There is an urgent need for improved knowledge of the principles involved in the modeling of energy in buildings to both build confidence amongst designers and to offer a broad perspective of the potential of new technologies.

Modelling Methods for Energy in Buildings reviews the various state-of-the-art methods for modeling energy exchange and fluid flow problems in buildings - whether they be the 'high tech' commercial buildings in the centre of our cities or the simpler and often naturally-ventilated buildings and residential habitats that surround them.

By providing comprehensive guidance for those engaged in the physical science of energy in buildings - building physicists, architectural scientists, building and building services engineers, HVAC engineers and building technologists - the book will:

• Offer the specialist knowledge, understanding and confidence needed for the applications of this developing field of modeling


• Bridge the theory/practice gap and enable practitioners to understand what goes on behind commercial program codes


• Provide procedures and 'recipes' for researchers, students and practitioners engaged in modeling.

About the Author

Chris Underwood is Reader in Building Services Engineering at the University of Northumbria and Francis Yik is Professor of Building Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Both have extensive experience of the development and application of modeling to energy and fluid flow problems in buildings and have published widely on subjects ranging from 'smart' control of building systems to wind flow around high-rise buildings.