Parameterisation of internal loads in assessment of building energy performance

In a computational building energy model internal loads are characterized by user-defined peak values, multiplied by diversity factors that simulate the typical daily change in use. For an existing building, while a detailed energy audit may be undertaken, attaining accurate internal load profiles for every space of the building can be prohibitive. In reality, the variation of internal loads over time is inherently stochastic. In order to develop a stochastic model of building operations, a number of studies have proposed parameterisations that incorporate some estimation of variability, with different assumptions and levels of complexity. This paper aims to examine potential models and thereby identify possible parameterisations for a stochastic model of internal loads in a.