Has anyone modeled for LEED for Homes before? I am trying to understand
what the requirements are for the baseline HVAC system so that our design is
sure to be better than the baseline (I understand that the "Rater" will be
performing the final energy analysis at a later date).
My situation: There will be a total of 64 apartment units between several
different buildings, and each unit has valance with 2 central plants feeding
all the equipment.
thanks for your input!
--
Rob Hudson
So, even though i have no central AC unit, and that i have a chiller that
serves several apt units, i still use this SEER of 13 or 14? Or do i assume
that because the units are getting chilled water/hot water from a "campus
loop" that the efficiencies for both the baseline and the proposed are
equivalent?
thanks,
Rob
I haven't done a LEED for Homes project in a little while, but when I did,
modeling needed to be done using software approved by HERS (Home Energy
Rating System). There are a few software packages available. In general,
they are pretty simple, and difficult to get unless you are a HERS rater.
For LEED for Homes, LEED kind of tacked onto the HERS program for the
energy portion. Is there a reason you're using LEED for Homes instead of
LEED for Neighborhood Development or LEED NC?
Karen
Honestly, because i was told to. There is a LEED person on board that said
this is the correct avenue to go.
I do know that the software packages are different then what i am currently
using, but this is more for design purposes rather than for LEED submittal.
that being said i still want to compare our design to the "expected" values
of the LEED for homes requirements.
>From your description, I am wondering if you have vertical units or
horizontal. If you have vertical units you probably should be looking at
the LEED for Homes mid-rise document in lieu of the standard LEED for Homes.
It is completely different approach than a single family low rise detached
home approach. It is basically an energy model with ASHRAE 90.1 (not even
90.2) approach, Appendix G and all the bells and whistles.
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7982
Jorge E. Torres Coto
We have a mix of Townhouses that could be 2 or 3 floors, Apartments that are
2 units per floor and 2 or 3 floors. Nothing is higher than 3 floors.
The minimums for SEER are on the tables from LEED for Homes (either 13 SEER
or 14 SEER), depending on your Climate zone.
Jorge E. Torres Coto