Automation of the BIM to BEM: workflow for annual hourly building energy simulation and system design optimization

Achieving the net-zero emissions target before 2050 requires continuous and increasing attention to CO₂ emissions. The building sector alone accounts for approximately 36% of global energy consumption and 39% of total CO2 emissions. In this context, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become the standard methodology, enabling effective collaboration among civil, energy, mechanical, and other engineering disciplines. This thesis focuses on the interoperability between the BIM software Autodesk Revit, which lacks advanced energy simulation capabilities, and EnergyPlus, which enables detailed hourly energy analyses and a more accurate estimation of building energy consumption. The research involves the development of some codes in different programming languages, such as Python and Ruby, starting from a Revit architectural model in which only the building spaces are defined. A first set of Python scripts, executed through Dynamo, automates the preparation steps in Revit for the gbXML export. These scripts define parameters such as the desired temperature, air change ratio, and humidity level, by leveraging the known characteristics of the building envelope. The generated gbXML file, enriched with all the necessary data, is then processed in OpenStudio. A second set of Ruby scripts operates within OpenStudio to generate the IDF file, the standard input format required by EnergyPlus. Finally, EnergyPlus performs an hourly simulation over an entire year and produces detailed Excel reports of all energy consumption categories. Through a third script, already developed, it is also possible to determine the sizing of the HVAC systems necessary to meet the building’s energy demands.