Computational workflow for energy-efficient building design: : Review of current challenges and opportunities

This study investigates the practical integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Building Energy Modelling (BEM) for energy-efficient building design. This research explores the challenges and opportunities of openBIM-to-BEM workflows by drawing on a literature review and a real-world case study in Östergötland County, typical of the Million Programme, a large public housing initiative in Sweden. Combining tools such as Revit, BlenderBIM, and IDA-ICE, this study documents a modelling-to-simulation pipeline. Key issues such as interoperability and semantic accuracy during Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) exchanges are identified. Findings suggest that while openBIM approaches offer transparency and flexibility, they also demand high technical skills and workflow refinement. This exploratory work prepares for the definition of relevant research questions for a doctoral project aiming to improve ICT-support for energy-efficient building design.