Wholebuilding

Whole-building refers to an approach in architecture, engineering, and construction that treats a building as an integrated system. It emphasizes interactions among envelope, structure, HVAC, lighting, electrical systems, controls, and occupant behavior, rather than optimizing components in isolation. The goal is to understand and improve overall performance, including energy use, indoor environmental quality, and comfort.

In practice, whole-building analysis uses energy modeling and data-driven methods to simulate total building energy consumption and performance. Common tools include EnergyPlus, eQuest, TRNSYS, and other simulation platforms. The process often involves calibrating models with measured utility data to reflect real conditions, followed by sensitivity analyses to identify key drivers and opportunities for improvement. Whole-building methods are used in both new design and retrofit projects, to evaluate tradeoffs and optimize system interactions across the building lifecycle.

Applications include compliance with energy codes and green building standards, performance-based design, and life-cycle assessment. Whole-building commissioning ensures that a constructed building operates as a coherent system aligned with the design intent. In policy and programs, the approach supports demand-side management, retrofits, and incentives that reward system-level performance rather than component-level savings alone.

Challenges include modeling complexity, data requirements, and uncertainty in occupant behavior and operation. Benefits can include greater energy savings, improved occupant comfort, reduced peak demand, and more resilient building operation through coordinated control of HVAC, lighting, and envelope strategies. The concept has grown with advances in simulation tools and increased emphasis on integrated design and performance verification.