CYPETHERM

When the CYPETHERM program is set to the "Improvement measures analysis" project type, it provides a specific interface for managing improvement measures or alternative building designs, where it is possible to generate a study of the improvement measures, including an energy and economic analysis of each one, calculating the payback period using static or dynamic analysis methods (Net Present Value).

In this specific interface, the program displays the building’s energy performance indicators for the various design options (such as the initial reference scenario and the scenarios obtained by applying each of the improvement measures), and lets you enter a description and the associated costs.

Energy performance indicators are imported from the simulations carried out in the program’s main calculation interface and previously shared with the BIMserver.center project to which the building is linked.

Data entry

• Importing the results of energy simulations from projects created in CYPETHERM (using the "Energy simulation" project type) and shared with the same project on the BIMserver.center platform.
  This enables the generation of different design alternatives (such as the initial state of the existing building and the states resulting from the application of different sets of improvement measures) and the import of the performance indicators for each design alternative.

Data output

Once data such as the description and costs of the various imported design alternatives have been entered, the program offers the following data output options:

• Exporting the report from the economic and energy improvement measures analysis to HTML, DOCX, PDF, RTF and TXT formats.
• Exporting data generated using CYPETHERM to the BIMserver.center platform.

When you launch the app and click on "New", you are given the option to create a "New project". First, enter the "File name" and its "Description".

Next, you need to specify the type of project.

You must select "Improvement measures analysis" to access the specific interface for analysing improvement measures.

The project can then be linked to an existing project on BIMserver.center.

This is done in the "Project selection" window by keeping the ‘Link to a BIMserver.center project" checkbox selected. This window displays the following options:

• On the left-hand side, you can sign in using a BIMserver.center account.
• On the right, use the "Select project" option to choose an existing project.

Later on, at any stage of the project, you can share or import project files via the "BIMserver.center" group on the main interface.

Importing BIM models

After selecting a project hosted on the BIMserver.center platform via "Select project" and confirming, the "Import BIM models" window appears, displaying the files contained in that project in IFC format.

The app lets you include one or more of the existing models in that project. To do this, tick the "Import" box and confirm.

These models must have been previously exported from a CYPETHERM simulation file (using the "Energy simulation" project type when creating a new build) and represent different scenarios or design alternatives.

Import results

Subsequently, the "Project" tree, on the left-hand side of the main interface, will display the alternatives imported during the project creation process. In any case, new improvement measures or design alternatives can also be created manually.

When you select each one, the imported "Performance indicators" will be displayed. You can add further indicators, or edit or delete the imported ones. To continue, you will need to add information to each imported option, such as its description and associated costs.

Energy cost

Define the cost of energy by energy source, in units of the selected currency per unit of energy selected. This information is used in the economic analysis carried out by the program.

The energy vectors for which this configuration can be set up are as follows:

• Grid electricity
  Electrical grid energy.
• Natural gas
• Diesel
• LPG
• Coal
• Solid biomass
• Biomass
• Environmental energy
  Thermal energy extracted from the environment, including solar thermal energy.
• Renewable electricity
  Electricity generated by equipment such as photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines and/or small-scale hydroelectric power stations.

Net Present Value

Enable the Net Present Value (NPV) calculation method to carry out a more detailed analysis of the payback period associated with the various improvement measures entered, and to configure its parameters.

• NPV calculation method (optional)
  The methodology used by the program to calculate the payback period is static analysis. If this option is enabled, dynamic analysis is included in the calculation.

The parameters to be defined when this calculation is enabled are as follows:

• Annual energy cost increase (%)
• Discount fee (optional) (%)
• Foreseen inflation (%)
• Analysis period (years)

Data relating to the various design scenarios or alternatives (such as the building’s initial state and scenarios involving each set of proposed improvement measures) is managed via the "Project" tree displayed on the left-hand side of the interface, which expands to show the levels corresponding to each scenario.

In addition, you can use the options in the "Data management" group on the main toolbar to delete or reorder scenarios.

• Reference
  Reference to the selected design scenario or alternative.
• Description
  This field must contain a full description of the chosen design option, detailing its main technical and construction characteristics.
• Other details
  Enter any other relevant information about the selected design option.

The "Reference scenario" option lets you specify that the selected design alternative is the reference scenario against which the economic or energy analysis comparisons will be made.

The "Improvement measures" option allows you to indicate that the element selected in the tree represents a design alternative to the reference scenario, as is the case with the building’s condition when a specific set of improvement measures is applied (such as replacing parts of the thermal envelope or the building’s installations with refurbished ones).

Performance indicators

Performance indicators can be added and completed manually or imported from the data provided by simulations previously carried out using the software and shared with the BIM model. They are as follows, for each of the technical services and for the building as a whole:

• Demand (kWh/m²·year)
• Final energy consumption (kWh/m²·year)
• Primary energy (kWh/m²·year)
• Non-renewable primary energy (kWh/m²·year)
• Emissions (kg CO₂/m²·year)
• Energy costs (selected currency/year)

This section also displays and allows you to amend the "Net floor area" of the building included in the analysis.

When adding or editing a performance indicator, the following must be defined in the "Technical service" window:

• Reference
• Energy and emissions figures ("Final energy", "Primary energy", "Non-renewable primary energy" and "Emissions") broken down by each energy vector ("Natural gas", "LPG", "Heating oil", "Coal", "Solid biomass", "Liquid and gaseous biomass", "Grid electricity", "Thermal energy taken from the environment" and/or "Electrical energy produced by photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines and small hydro turbines");
• Type of meter (whether "Heating", "Cooling", "DHW", "Ventilation", "Lighting", "Transport", "Humidity control" or "Other").

Estimate

Define the cost of the improvement measure or design alternative in a simplified manner by selecting one of the following ranges (in the selected currency units):

• < 500
• 500–1,000
• 1,000–10,000
• 10,000–25,000
• 25,000–50,000
• 50,000–100,000
• > 100,000

The program will take the average of the selected range when carrying out the economic analysis.

• Budgets
  • Description
  • Units
  • Quantity
  • Cost
  • Amount
• Financial aid and grants
  • Reference
  • Amount
• Associated costs
  • Concept
  • %
  • Ud (currency units (by default, euros))
• Associated expenses
  • Reference
  • Amount

Improvement measures analysis

By clicking on the "Results" option, you can obtain an "Improvement measures analysis" containing an energy and economic analysis of each measure in relation to the baseline scenario, calculating the payback period using static or dynamic analysis methods (provided the relevant parameters have been defined under the "Net Present Value" option).

A summary of the results and an energy and economic analysis (cost-benefit analysis) of each measure are provided. The latter includes:

• Expenses and grants
• Static analysis of investment recovery
• Dynamic analysis of the investment recovery, if the relevant option has been selected under "Net Present Value" in the "General data" section.

The program lets you print this report directly or generate files in HTML, PDF, TXT, RTF or DOCX format using the relevant options in the top right-hand corner of the viewer.

Update

Update the information contained in the models previously imported into the project, or import new models if required.

Share

Export the information on the installation created using the program to BIMserver.center so that you can share it with other users.

During the export process, you can specify the details relating to the contribution to be generated:

• Name
• Description