Design and commissioning of the low-energy office building in Prague

This paper deals with the use of computer simulations both for design support of a new building including its heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) systems and for optimization of the HVAC control strategy during operation of the completed building. In the early design phases for a new commercial building in Prague computer simulations were carried out in view of possible effects of night cooling ventilation. Predictions of the indoor environment and energy consumption for various options regarding cooling capacity and different outdoor ventilation rates supported the HVAC system design which included daytime top cooling and night ventilation with outdoor air combined with accumulation of cold in building constructions. After completion of the building, occupants' complaints and a set of measurements indicated some problems with the HVAC, which were subsequently solved. Long-term monitoring and further computer simulations were performed in order to optimize the control strategy of the top cooling system