Building Energy Modeling and Optimization
1.
Simplify Energy Code Compliance
Energy modeling can be used to demonstrate building efficiency, as an alternative to meeting a long list of design requirements.
2.
Optimize Your Building Design
Simulate energy consumption and operating costs for multiple building designs, and choose the highest-ROI option for construction.
3.
Qualify for Building Certifications
Improve the efficiency of your buildings with energy modeling, and meet ENERGY STAR and LEED Certification requirements.
Why
EOS Labs
Every consultant on our team has at least 10 years of experience in design, construction, maintenance, sustainability, or facilities management.
Buildings Served
energy savings
Risk-Free Service!
EOS Labs is an ENERGY STAR Service Partner, and we can help you improve energy performance across your building portfolio. Using energy modeling software and our expertise across multiple projects, we can help you reduce the operating costs of both existing buildings and new constructions.
The applications of energy modeling include:
Energy modeling is also useful in jurisdictions with building emission limits, since you can use it to demonstrate compliance. You can calculate your consumption of different energy sources accurately (electricity, natural gas, heating oil, etc.), and then determine your total emissions based on the carbon footprint of each source. Building energy modeling is also used by government agencies when developing energy codes and incentive programs, and when making policy decisions.
How Does Energy Modeling Work?
Under the traditional design approach, building systems such as HVAC and lighting are analyzed independently. With energy modeling, the entire building is analyzed as a single system with interacting components, while also considering operating schedules and the local weather. This results in a more accurate calculation of how buildings use energy throughout the year.
Energy modeling software uses a large number of inputs to predict the energy performance of a building.
There are many software packages in the market, with different interfaces and features, but they generally use the following inputs:
- Building characteristics
- Building systems
- Operating conditions
Geometry, construction materials, window placement, building orientation, insulation levels, etc.
HVAC equipment, ductwork, piping, lighting fixtures, motors, water heaters, refrigeration equipment, onsite generation systems, energy storage systems, etc.
Occupancy rates, schedules, local electricity and gas prices, HVAC zoning requirements, local weather, etc.
Using this information, energy modeling software can predict how a building will consume energy throughout the year. One of the main advantages of energy modeling is being able to analyze the interactions between building systems and how they influence energy consumption.
As a quick example, assume you upgrade from fluorescent to LED fixtures, reducing the power consumption of the lighting system by 50%.
If a major LED retrofit reduces the heat emissions of a building’s lighting system by 100 kW, the air conditioning workload is reduced by over 341,200 BTU/h (1 kW = 3.412 BTU/h). However, the space heating system must now provide 341,200 BTU/h that were previously delivered by the less-efficient light fixtures.
This is just an example of how the interaction between building systems can influence energy performance. These behaviors are not normally considered when using traditional design methods or simplified calculations. Energy modeling provides a more accurate picture of how your building uses energy, and how design decisions affect its consumption.
- Using Energy Modeling in New Constructions
- Using Energy Modeling in Existing Buildings
Energy modeling can be used to optimize the capacity of building equipment in new construction projects, in addition to improving energy performance. Traditional design methods often result in oversized equipment, which has a higher price and increased O&M costs over time. On the other hand, with energy modeling you can size equipment based on the unique operating conditions of each building:
- You can simulate the performance of different equipment options and the interactions between building systems during the design stage.
- This is especially useful when designing HVAC systems, which account for over 50% of energy consumption in many residential and commercial buildings.
If you’re seeking LEED certification for a new building, energy modeling is a very helpful tool. Under the LEED Building Design + Construction (BD+C) certification, which applies for new constructions, you can earn up to 35 points for energy performance.
Considering that you need 40 points for a basic LEED Certification, it makes sense to focus on energy efficiency during the design stage. If you have already earned many LEED points in other performance areas like water conservation and indoor air quality, energy modeling can boost your score and help you reach the higher certification levels (LEED Silver, Gold or Platinum).
Energy modeling can also be used to improve the energy performance of existing buildings. This is very helpful in cities that are currently introducing emissions limits for existing properties: you can test the performance of building retrofit projects before spending capital, making sure they achieve the required emissions reductions.
If you’re planning a major renovation, you have an excellent opportunity to use energy modeling.
- Energy upgrades that require considerable modifications can be very difficult to implement when a building is operating normally.
- However, a major renovation gives you the opportunity to implement energy efficiency measures that would be very disruptive under normal conditions.
- You can use energy modeling to compare different energy upgrades, and choose a combination that minimizes your electricity and gas bills.
Energy modeling is also a powerful tool if you’re seeking a LEED or ENERGY STAR Certification in an existing building. Energy efficiency is one of the main performance areas considered in the LEED rating system, and your building must be among the top 25% most efficient properties of its type to qualify for the ENERGY STAR Certification. Energy modeling can help your building qualify for both certifications simultaneously, and you can rely on EOS Labs’ experience as an ENERGY STAR Service Partner.