| THINK TANK | By Brian Turner, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, Mechanical Engineer, Associate Principal, Clark Nexsen
RECONCILING DESIGN-PHASE MODELS WITH
REAL-WORLD RESULTS IN ENERGY MODELING
To evaluate the
performance of
future buildings and
inform design decisions,
designers leverage
energy modeling to
simulate the potential
energy consumption of
a building and assess
the ROI of energy
solutions.
Taking into account
items such as utility
bills, lifecycle costs, air
conditioning systems,
lights, and hot water, the
pEUI (predicted energy
usage intensity) projected
by these models plays an
important role in helping
‘THE BEST USE OF A DESIGN-PHASE
ENERGY MODEL IS TO INFORM DESIGN
DECISIONS, NOT PREDICT ENERGY
CONSUMPTION WITH CERTAINTY.’
— BRIAN TURNER, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, Clark Nexsen
clients and designers
balance priorities and
make informed decisions
to develop the most
efficient buildings possible.
The energy modeling
process, however, is
not without challenges.
As you might imagine,
the inputs to an energy
model are numerous and
difficult to quantify with
18 | BUILDING DESIGN+CONSTRUCTION | June 2017
certainty during the design
process. Often, these
inputs include, at best,
educated guesses: How
many computers will be on
at 3 pm on June 28, and
how much power do they
consume? How often will
the conference room be
used, and at what level of
capacity? Do the building
occupants travel often, or
telecommute?
Energy models
generate very specific
outputs synthesized
from hundreds—perhaps
thousands—of educated
assumptions and
approximations of how
the building will actually
perform.
But in the real world,
the occupancy and
maintenance of a building
can impact energy use
significantly, regardless
of projections and design
intent. A 2011 study by
the New Buildings Institute
concluded that the
occupancy and operation
of a building can “increase
building energy use from
80-140%, or conversely
reduce energy use by about
30%, in comparison to the
typical baseline building.”
Representative of the
potential inaccuracies in
the modeling process,
this wide variation
highlights the importance
of close collaboration and
communication between
the client and the design
team to establish inputs
that will be as close as
possible to real use.
The best use of a design-
phase energy model is to
inform design decisions,
not predict energy
consumption with certainty.
For example, parametric
modeling can be used to
determine optimal U-values,
shading coefficients, glazing
configurations, massings,
and temperature set points.
Energy models can
also be used to explore
engineering system
alternatives and study the
relative impacts of energy
conservation strategies.
Comparative modeling
can inform decisions
about where to invest
construction dollars based
on lifecycle performance.
5 WAYS TO IMPROVE
ENERGY MODELS
1. Energy modelers should
be certified to demonstrate
their proficiency in the
practice. Certification
programs include:
Building Energy Modeling
Professional (ASHRAE) and
Building Energy Simulation
Analyst (AEE).
2. Leverage energy
models as an iterative
tool throughout the
design process—not just
once at the outset of the
project—to compare and
contrast scenarios and
maximize the owner’s
initial investment, as well
as long-term costs.
3. All energy models
should be subject to a
quality control review to
check inputs and modeling
methods and scrutinize the
quality of the results.
4. Energy modelers can
and should continually
enhance their knowledge
of how buildings actually
function—and sharpen
their modeling skills—by
taking part in hands-
on activities such as
retrocommissioning.
5. Discussing the purpose
and accuracy of a design-
phase energy model with
the building owner and
relevant stakeholders
helps develop a mutual
understanding of the
benefits and limitations
of the model. It will also
strengthen the quality of
model inputs and provide
the most accurate results.