Integrating Indoor Climate, Daylight and Energy Simulations in Parametric Models and Performance-Based Design

This paper presents a method for using parametric models to generate design support for the performance-based design process regarding indoor climate, daylight and energy performance. The method is operationalised in the Grasshopper programming environment. In the method, the designer suggests a room design and decides a certain degree of parametric freedom of parameters defining the room e.g. based on an overall architectural idea, a conceptual thought or something third. The method then employs a system of simulation tools and an optimization algorithm to generate a range of design proposals fulfilling user-defined indoor climate, daylight and energy performance criteria. The geometries of these solutions are presented to the designer together with performance data for decision making. The system of simulation tools includes the thermal simulation tool called ICEbear which is a newly developed plug-in to Grasshopper. It is ICEbear that enables the integrated indoor climate, daylight and energy performance simulations of complex geometries.