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Using BIM to improve building energy efficiency – A scientometric and systematic review

Pereira, Vítor / Santos, José / Leite, Fernanda / Escórcio, Patrícia

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Highlights • BIM tools have allowed designers to achieve more efficient solutions. • Interoperability between BIM and BEM tools is low and software-dependent. • BIM tools are not yet ready for Digital Twin technology. • BIM tools are a good support for LCA analysis and building energy certification. • Energy efficiency analysis through BIM should be included in future curricula.

Abstract The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector is responsible for a great proportion of the global energy consumption and associated environmental impacts. On this front, and from a sustainability improvement perspective, the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) capabilities could represent an opportunity to improve these impacts in all steps of a building’s life. The main purpose of the current paper is to identify the areas in which BIM technology can or already is playing a role in improving building efficiency, helping AECO sector stakeholders in reducing environmental impacts. In the current paper, the impact of using BIM to enhance the building energy efficiency is explored through a scientometric analysis and a systematic literature review. There is a high interest among the scientific community in these fields, given the recent rise in publications and citation numbers. Moreover, there is a lack of interoperability between BIM and energy analysis tools, a high potential for integrating BIM with other technologies, such as thermography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and monitoring, and a very positive impact from the use of BIM in the optimisation of construction solutions which allow energy savings in the AECO sector.