Hi all,

I am currently carrying out my dissertation for my Part 1 in architecture on a part time basis and also working full time at an architects. I have been monitoring for a number of years the performance of our office building and for my dissertation I am carrying out a comparative study, comparing simulated data with live data - I am aware that one study will not confirm either way if the software is accurate, but I am trying to highlight some of the areas which may result in discrepancies and after all the only true way of testing is comparing live with simulated. I also hope this study can link with many of the other studies all ready produced on this subject. If anybody wishes to post links to any similar studies then please do, I may already have them but the more information the better.

Ok, after all of that, I have for the past five days been attempting to model my office in Ecotect it is a relatively simple office of 48m2, it is earth sheltered and has 6 zones. (http://www.searcharchitects.co.uk/search_content/portfolio/residential/lswlp/index.htm)

The trouble I am having is that I have modelled the building, amended the materials to match as built and updated Uvalues, inserted windows, defined occupancy rates, inserted appliances and defined there use rate etc and then have moved on to thermal analysis, which is where the problem starts, I acheive a variation from 6.7 degrees on the coldest day to 35.8 degrees on the hottest. I have been investigating or days but can not work it out, I have even remodelled three times but no joy, but similar results.

My gut instinct is I have done something wrong, as the building is passively designed, with high thermal mass and super insulation and I know from personal monitoring we achieve a zero heated status with internal temperature variations from 16 degress to 25 degrees.

Is anybody able to assist me, or propose some possible reasons, any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I have also attached the file as it currently is if anybody wishes to view and investigate.

Thank You.

James Burton