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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>FYI, Check out <a href="http://www.Weatheranalytics.com">www.Weatheranalytics.com</a> for “AMY” (Actual Meteorological Year) data. They’re a new player in this arena and seem to have their act together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The Building Performance Team<br></span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP, BEMP<br></span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1631 Acacia Drive NW<br>Grand Rapids, MI 49504<br>616 450 8653<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Jorge Torres-Coto [mailto:jtorres-coto@mbo1.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 29, 2011 10:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Nick Caton'; 'James V Dirkes II, PE'; 'Karen Walkerman'; 'Carol Gardner'<br><b>Cc:</b> bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [Bldg-sim] eQuest - Model verification<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>5% is a really tight number we have been forced to work with on come retro commissioning projects in the past, with 10% being the norm on an annual and monthly basis for overall building energy use. Anything stricter than those numbers is unrealistic (again for the overall building).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Jorge E. Torres Coto </span><span style='font-size:1.0pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:black;layout-grid-mode:line'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'><img border=0 width=39 height=39 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CC0665.544519A0"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>4830 Viewridge Ave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=ES-MX style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>San Diego, CA 92123<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=ES-MX style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>p 858.751.0933<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=ES-MX style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>f 858.751.0937<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>c 858.688.6088<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:navy'><img border=0 width=181 height=159 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image002.gif@01CC0665.544519A0"></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Nick Caton<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 29, 2011 7:42 AM<br><b>To:</b> James V Dirkes II, PE; Karen Walkerman; Carol Gardner<br><b>Cc:</b> bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Bldg-sim] eQuest - Model verification</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>I know I have less experience calibrating models than some other respondents, but I’ll share my perspectives as well:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It is easy to adjust occupancy schedules / lighting loads in eQuest, but it requires the end-user knows the program. If the end-user is inexperienced with eQuest or any other simulation program, then there is no “easily modifiable” model you can provide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'>Even if I manage to put in daily occupant and fan schedules based on actual use, will the model be accurate enough to take me within 1%?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>With regard to historical modeling, showing any deadband of accuracy to known costs/consumptions is *technically* possible given enough information and time… That said, falling within 1% of any holistic measure, even on an annual basis, before “refining the unknowns” would probably happen only by very lucky/happy coincidence. It’s fair to say that in a relative sense, some buildings operate much more regularly and predictably than others, and for these cases you or a client might reasonably expect a tighter deadband. Asking what is “accurate enough” is like asking “what’s reasonable,” and the answer is that it depends on what info/time you have. There are always “unknowable” variables that can play a big role in your end-results (example: what is the actual leakiness of a 35 year old envelope?).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'>We have been asked to remove plug loads (both for consumption purposes and cooling loads). Will this be too big of an assumption to get any accuracy out of the model in the future?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Depends on your building, but for most buildings plug loads are a significant fraction of consumption/internal loads. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'>How do I modify the weather input file?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>I saved the attached email from David Reddy for the next time I need to tackle “actual weather.” My attempts thus far haven’t been terribly successful, so I have no “go-to” procedures to share just yet. I have heard reference from those who appear in the know to macro/VBA-heavy excel spreadsheets which can automate the workflow to one extent or another, but I’ve not yet seen one with my own eyes. I have yet to hear of any program that can “easily” incorporate recently recorded weather data. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#365F91'> Are there any other ideas I’m missing that will help us validate a model as an absolute measure of actual building energy consumption?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Generally: the only “absolute measure of actual building consumption” will be the utility bills. Something about the 1% number tells me you or your client might be trying to hammer a nail with a screwdriver… Energy models are great for looking to the past to make decisions that acknowledge the unknowns of the future, but if the real goal is to know the actual energy usage on an hourly basis – why not set up some sub-meters and track them? While meters/bills measure energy usage and energy models can use that information to make predictions, models don’t determine bills – it doesn’t work in reverse!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>PS: For all the work you might put into calibrating a model with historical weather and other known data, keep perspective that your model will only ever be that accurate for behaviour in that year. The moment anyone wants to use this model predictively (for the future), you probably should swap back to TMY weather data and embrace the inherent unknowns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>~Nick<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><img border=0 width=119 height=37 id="Picture_x005f_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01CC0665.544519A0" alt="cid:489575314@22072009-0ABB"></span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>NICK CATON, E.I.T.</span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#CC9900'>PROJECT ENGINEER<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>Smith & Boucher Engineers</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#CC9900'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>25501 west valley parkway<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>olathe ks 66061<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>direct 913 344.0036<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'>fax 913 345.0617<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="www.smithboucher.com" title="blocked::www.smithboucher.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.smithboucher.com</span></a></span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue'> </span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>James V Dirkes II, PE<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 28, 2011 7:12 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Karen Walkerman'; 'Carol Gardner'<br><b>Cc:</b> bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Bldg-sim] eQuest - Model verification<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Weighing in late on this….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If I get >80% R-squared correlation, I think I’m doing well! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There are so many unknowns, including the normal situation that the client doesn’t know their own operating schedules, occupancy patterns, or maintenance / calibration procedures….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The Building Performance Team<br></span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP, BEMP<br></span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1631 Acacia Drive NW</span><br><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Grand Rapids, MI 49504</span><br><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>616 450 8653<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Karen Walkerman<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 28, 2011 3:31 PM<br><b>To:</b> Carol Gardner<br><b>Cc:</b> bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Bldg-sim] eQuest - Model verification<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Also, a model that is calibrated to actual building use and weather can help to highlight building operation issues. I have had models which were off from actual operating energy use that I was able to determine how the building was operating inefficiently.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>In one case, I created a model of an existing building. For this model, I made an actual count of lighting fixtures and computers. For most of the year, there were few other electrical loads. I based on their occupancy and use schedules, I was not quite able to calibrate the electrical energy use. When I met with the client, I informed him that my model showed somewhat lower electrical use, equivalent to 1/3 of the computers remaining on 24-hours per day. As it turned out, about 1/3 of the employees DID leave their computers on at all times so that they could log in remotely.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>... I guess what I'm saying is that maybe the goal is not to get the model within 1% of the building energy use, but get the building within 1% of the model.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>--<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Karen<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 3:20 PM, Carol Gardner <<a href="mailto:cmg750@gmail.com">cmg750@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Bill summed it up really well, Katherine. Sometimes a client will think a calibrated model must match the real building by an unrealistically high number, like 1%. I really can't imagine an instance when that would be desirable. It certainly would be costly to achieve. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Usually the plan is to use the calibrated model as a tool to examine various energy saving measures/opportunities that the client may be interested in implementing. It is important to remember, in this case that you are looking at the usage between the calibrated model and the ECM model, so the 1% deviation is consistent in both and not a worry.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'>Carol<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Bishop, Bill <<a href="mailto:wbishop@pathfinder-ea.com" target="_blank">wbishop@pathfinder-ea.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Katherine,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>The questions I would have for you (or your client) are:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>Is this an existing building, or something in the design phase?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>What is the model going to be used for?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>Is there something magical about the 1% number?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>1% of what? Annual electrical consumption? Annual gas consumption? Both? Monthly electric/gas consumption? Monthly/annual electrical demand?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>Why remove the plug loads? Even if everything else is modeled perfectly, plug loads are typically 10% or more of annual electrical consumption but can be all over the place.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'>“Easily adjusted” by whom? Does your client want you to hand them a model and let them make all subsequent adjustments?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Even if you are an expert energy modeler, and there is monitored energy data available for the building down to the individual electrical panels or broken out by end use (lighting, plug loads, individual HVAC units etc.) you will be hard-pressed to get to within 1% on a month-by-month basis. Even 5% month-by-month is difficult. Sure, you can tweak to your heart’s content to get a model to match annual electric consumption within 1% based on prior year’s utility bills but to maintain a calibrated model to that tolerance after that would require a lot of work.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>I suggest searching the bldg-sim and equest-users archives for information about weather files.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Oh, one more question – how much money does your client have?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Bill</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>William Bishop, PE, BEMP, LEED<sup>®</sup> AP </span></b><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#006600'>|</span></b><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> Pathfinder Engineers & Architects LLP</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Mechanical Engineer</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:5.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><b>Error! Filename not specified.</b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#1F497D'>134 South Fitzhugh Street Rochester, NY 14608<br>T: <a href="tel:%28585%29%20325-6004" target="_blank">(585) 325-6004</a> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:black'>Ext. 114</span><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#1F497D'>F: <a href="tel:%28585%29%20325-6005" target="_blank">(585) 325-6005</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:black'><a href="mailto:wbishop@pathfinder-ea.com" target="_blank">wbishop@pathfinder-ea.com</a> <a href="http://www.pathfinder-ea.com/" target="_blank">www.pathfinder-ea.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green'>P</span><span style='color:green'> </span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:green'>Sustainability – the forest AND the trees.</span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green'> P</span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:green'> </span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <a href="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Katherine Louman-Gardiner<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 28, 2011 1:49 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Bldg-sim] eQuest - Model verification</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Hi All,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Our client would like us to produce an eQuest model that</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>a)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>Can be easily adjusted to include current and recently recorded weather data</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>b)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>Can be easily adjusted to reflect space occupancies and lighting loads</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>c)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>Will reflect the actual building energy usage to within 1%</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Do any of you have experience trying to validate models like this? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>My concern is that models are approximations, and will not account for small changes in occupancy, outdoor weather, etc. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>I guess my questions are these:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>1)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>Even if I manage to put in daily occupant and fan schedules based on actual use, will the model be accurate enough to take me within 1%?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>2)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>We have been asked to remove plug loads (both for consumption purposes and cooling loads). Will this be too big of an assumption to get any accuracy out of the model in the future?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>3)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>How do I modify the weather input file?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>4)</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-CA>Are there any other ideas I’m missing that will help us validate a model as an absolute measure of actual building energy consumption?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Thank you for your help,<br>Katherine</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Katherine Louman-Gardiner, EIT</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA>Mechanical Engineer</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in'><span lang=EN-CA> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'>_______________________________________________<br>Bldg-sim mailing list<br><a href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org" target="_blank">http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org</a><br>To unsubscribe from this mailing list send a blank message to <a href="mailto:BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@ONEBUILDING.ORG" target="_blank">BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@ONEBUILDING.ORG</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><br><br clear=all><br>-- <br>Carol Gardner PE<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in'><br>_______________________________________________<br>Bldg-sim mailing list<br><a href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org" target="_blank">http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org</a><br>To unsubscribe from this mailing list send a blank message to <a href="mailto:BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@ONEBUILDING.ORG">BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@ONEBUILDING.ORG</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>