BIM-Based Energy Analysis and Sustainability Assessment—Application to Portuguese Buildings
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In my opinion the manuscript BIM-based energy analysis and sustainability assessment – application to Portuguese buildings, has enough quality to be published in Buildings journal, although there is still some room for improvement.
I find that the topic is relevant and, as the authors state, BIM methodologies still need more research in order to be actually applied in the professional field.
Buildings are very complex products that can be considered almost as prototypes. Any other product such as cars, washing machines, etc., are much simpler and their manufacturing process is developed under a controlled environment. However, there is not a building totally equal to another, even with similar constructive characteristics, location may be different. Besides, many constructive systems are still quite handmade and dependent on the man power, machinery, etc. The estimations made in the project phase will very likely encounter some deviations from the initial idea, because unforeseen circumstances use to appear in the site, in actual conditions.
The BIM methodology permits to optimize the construction process, with a much more accurate definition of the project and with flexibility to changes, because of the connection of the different parts, so it is a good opportunity to standardize and control the procedure. Still, the application to the professional world is not generalised in every country in the EU, because procedures need to be updated and a new vision must be applied in a sector which entails a great inertia from the past.
Using BIM to ease the energy performance simulations is a good attempt to take advantage of the previously made BIM-model. This manuscript present a case study in two different buildings in order to test the advantages and the shortcomings and the reliability of using the BIM model for this goal. Although the case studies are centred in the Portuguese context, they could be easily extrapolated to any UE State Member’s procedures, as all of them are developed from the common framework of the EPB Directives.
However, the text should be improved in some parts in order to ease the reading (please, read the attached document)
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attached document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
54 proving > providing
Subscripts and * in Equations 1 and 2 are confusing.
Definitions for P7 and P8 appear after their first mention.
The Paper appears to present two different methods for assessing energy efficiency within Portuguese Buildings. The comparisons appear to be similar with any differences being explained. The fact that some limited interoperability with Revit is possible is also set out and problems associated with this are well explained. The so called "Research Questions" are more akin to questions a user might ask a Revit salesman! 1. Can I use BIM for my project? 2. Is BIM reliable? 3. Can I use the results?
It may be that I am a REVIT skeptic but this appears to be more of a report than a research paper.
Sorry
Author Response
Please see the attached document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Although my questions have been answered, I still feel my reservations are valid. and could improve the acceptance of the work.
