BREDEM—The BRE domestic energy model: Testing the predictions of a two-zone version

Abstract

An earlier paper by Uglow¹ describes a calculation method for determining energy use in dwellings. That model is now referred to as BREDEM-1 (BRE Domestic Energy Model 1). BREDEM-1 is a simple single-zone model designed for hand calculations; its predictive capabilities have been tested on a group of over forty dwellings². Major extensions to the BREDEM-1 model to include two zones and also incorporating changes to the way in which internal and external temperatures are handled, resulted in BREDEM-2³. Like its predecessor, BREDEM-2 is designed for hand calculations, although a number of closely related computer based versions have been developed. These are also called BREDEM and are given individual identification numbers. This paper tests the predictions of BREDEM-5 (also known as Energy Auditor) using the same sample as was used for BREDEM-1 testing. The two-zone model is found to be an improvement on BREDEM-1, there being less scatter in the results. Even so, the paper identifies potential areas for improvement.