Validation of DOE-2.1A and a microcomputer based hourly energy analysis computer program for a residential building

A validation study was conducted to determine the accuracy of two hourly energy analysis programs: the mainframe code DOE-2.1A and ADM-2, a microcomputer-based building energy analysis program for predicting the monthly energy use of a residence in Dhahran. In spite of some scatter, the overall agreement between the measured data and the predictions of the two programs are sufficiently close to show that energy-analysis models may be used effectively in predicting annual energy consumption. On an annual basis, the difference between predicted and measured data was 3% for DOE-2.1A and 6% for ADM-2 during the monitored period for the residence. Heating-energy use tended to be more difficult to predict than cooling consumption. The dispersion between the measured and predicted values may be attributed to the lack of availability of accurate and sufficiently complete input data, especially on occupant behavior. It is shown that the hourly microcomputer code can provide an evaluation with accuracy similar to the mainframe codes for assessing energy use and consideration of various design options in residential buildings.