Why can’t we just use widely available and more sophisticated dynamic building simulation tools instead of the set of EPB standards?
The reason we can’t simply replace the EPB (Energy Performance of Buildings) standards with widely available dynamic building simulation tools lies in several key factors: 1. Regulatory Consistency and Comparability The EPB standards provide a harmonized framework that ensures consistent and comparable energy performance assessments across different buildings, regions, and countries. If everyone used different […]
Why use a spreadsheet to validate an EPB standard when software tools exist?
Spreadsheets are used to ensure consistency, coherence, and accuracy across all EPB standards. Developed alongside each calculation standard, they provide a transparent, step-by-step demonstration of the process, making it easy to trace, verify, and understand calculations—even when dealing with complex equations. Though not designed for daily professional use, spreadsheets are valuable for: • Software developers […]
Wouldn’t using a programming language like Python be clearer than spreadsheets?
Spreadsheets are primarily used for demonstration and validation, as explained in another FAQ. Their key advantage is accessibility—anyone can scroll through and examine formulas, making the entire calculation process transparent and easy to follow step by step. Spreadsheets also provide immediate access to all intermediate results for each equation and calculation step. For practical applications, […]
Are there plans to digitalize the set of EPB standards in any way?
Yes, the plan is to upgrade the set of EPB standards from being individually “software proof” to become individually and as a set “software ready”. How? By making all input and output data in each EPB (calculation) standard fully explicit, including all non-numeric choices and to mark these up and link them to a repository […]