由于需要减少建筑物供暖和制冷的能耗，因此在设计过程中，需要能够估计某些设计选择的能源效应。为了满足这一需求，并寻求符合能源预算的要求，一些特殊用途的计算机程序已经开发出来。这些程序允许对一大类建筑及其能源系统进行建模。通常，这些程序允许用户以相当一般的方式定义建筑围护结构、暖通空调分配（二次）系统和中央供暖和制冷设备（一次系统）。该程序的执行将使用磁带上记录的天气数据和指定的建筑使用模式，在指定的时间段内进行模拟。主要输出是建筑能源的使用，以及建筑使用寿命中的能源成本。 参考文献3概述了这些项目。尽管近几个月来这些项目的能力有了显著提高，但仍存在一些基本限制。两个这样的限制是无法表示和建模任意系统，以及无法模拟最优控制。本文介绍了一个网络。暖通空调系统的建模方法，有可能消除这两个限制。本文回顾了这些局限性，并对网络表示进行了描述。接下来是对网络的简要描述。编程注意事项、解决方法和优化方法。该方法以实际建筑的网络、建模和最优控制仿真为例。引文:俄亥俄州辛辛那提ASHRAE学报第87卷第2部分研讨会

Due to the need to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling of buildings, it is desirable to be able to estimate the energy effect of certain design choices during the design process. To meet this need, and to seek compliance with energy budgets now part of some building codes, a number of special-purpose computer programs have been developed. These programs allow modeling of a large class of buildings and their energy systems. Typically, these programs allow the user to define a building envelope, the HVAC distribution (secondary) system, and the heating and cooling central plant equipment (primary system) in a fairly general way. Execution of the program causes simulation to be done over a specified period, using weather data recorded on magnetic tape and specified building usage patterns. The principal output is building energy usage, and the cost of this energy for the life of the building. Ref 3 provides an overview of these programs.In spite of the significant improvement in the capabilities of these programs in recent months, a number of fundamental limitations remain. Two such limitations are inability to represent and model an arbitrary system, and inability to simulate optimal control. This paper presents a network. modeling approach for HVAC systems which has the potential of eliminating both of these limitations.A review of these limitations is presented, as well as a description of the network representation. This is followed by a brief description of network. programming considerations, solution techniques and optimization methods. The method is exemplified by network, modeling and optimal control simulation of an actual building.