[Equest-users] newbie question on simple modeling

Wed Oct 27 10:19:54 PDT 2010

Sounds like you've run head-on into a conundrum we all continually face
as energy modelers - how accurate is accurate enough?

The savings generated by any glazing retrofit ultimately boil down to
altering the envelope loads the building has to deal with
(solar/conductive)*.  Your real goal is to have those loads' magnitudes
in the right ballpark before doing a comparison.

You should definitely try to use the real-world utility rates, location,
geometries and envelope constructions of the existing building for this
study when making your baseline in the wizards.  

To what degree you should calibrate your baseline results depends on
your time available, ability (what you can do in that time) and what
degree of accuracy is desired in the results - it's ultimately your
call.  If you're a total beginner without time to burn, I'd suggest at a
bare minimum to collect and try to roughly match some historical utility
bills on an annual basis.  If the actual building spends $200,000 a year
on gas/electricity and your generic baseline spits out half that, you
will definitely want to improve your model before generating/sharing any
results.   This would provide a (rough) measure of whether your model is
accurately ball parking the envelope loads correctly.

You're correct regarding the overall procedure: make the baseline first,
check and calibrate its behavior to the degree you feel appropriate,
then change the glazing for comparative results.  

You might do well to read up on parametric runs first to save yourself
time and streamline the process - then you can simultaneously explore
multiple alternatives within one file.  Also don't miss the significance
of the "use floor multipliers" checkbox in the wizards whenever doing
high-rise building models.

~Nick

*... unless there's daylighting controls involved too, in which case you
should collect as much info regarding those lightings systems/controls
as you can to match in your baseline as well!

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

PROJECT ENGINEER

25501 west valley parkway

olathe ks 66061

direct 913 344.0036

fax 913 345.0617

Check out our new web-site @ www.smithboucher.com 

From: Darrell Cherry [mailto:DCherry at jeberkowitz.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:43 AM
To: Nick Caton
Subject: RE: [Equest-users] newbie question on simple modeling

Nick, thank you.  What specific parameters would you recommend I obtain
from building owner in order to provide more realistic analysis?  Rates?
HVAC plant and zoning info? Time-of-use rates?  Etc.?

I assume what I need to do is create a baseline of the current building
and its current energy costs/rates and after that is done I will simply
change the one component I plan to affect; i.e. glazing, and then run
the comparison.

Cordially, 
Darrell Cherry | Projects Manager 
JE Berkowitz, LP | Architectural Glass Since 1920 
One Gateway Boulevard | Pedricktown, NJ  08067 
T 800.257.7827 x207| F 856.299.4344 | C 856.229.1598 
dcherry at jeberkowitz.com <mailto:dcherry at jeberkowitz.com>  | 
www.jeberkowitz.com <http://www.jeberkowitz.com>  

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From: Nick Caton [mailto:ncaton at smithboucher.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 11:37 AM
To: Darrell Cherry; equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: RE: [Equest-users] newbie question on simple modeling

"Is this just too simplistic for eQuest?"

...There's  a question we don't see often here =)!

eQuest can be used to quickly build a generic 19-story office building
from the wizards.  

eQuest can easily be used to compare the effects of two glazing
materials.

What eQuest cannot do (nor any other software), is calibrate to
accurately model "current annual energy costs" and "improved" costs with
only one bit of information - glass type.  

As long as you intend to estimate "relative annual energy savings," you
should be fine using eQuest to make as simplified a comparison as you
might desire.  

Just keep in mind: the less effort spent attempting to match reality
with your baseline model, the more of an estimate the whole exercise
really is.

~Nick

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

PROJECT ENGINEER

25501 west valley parkway

olathe ks 66061

direct 913 344.0036

fax 913 345.0617

Check out our new web-site @ www.smithboucher.com 

From: equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Darrell
Cherry
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 9:54 AM
To: equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: [Equest-users] newbie question on simple modeling

I need to utilize eQuest for basically one simple purpose; i.e. I am
looking to change ONLY the makeup of the windows in a 19-story office
building from monolithic glazing to a triple-glazed system.  The frame
WILL NOT change.

What I need to model is the current annual energy costs vs ne costs with
improved fenestration system.

Is this just too simplistic for eQuest?

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