ASHRAE Baseline EUI

16 posts / 0 new
Last post

All,

I have developed a baseline building and calculated its energy use index
(EUI), total source building btu use divided by building square footage,
and I am curious to compare it to other models. Obviously since many
users on this list are from very different climate zones, we will get
some varying answers. However, I would still be interested to see what
kind of use different buildings are characterized by, especially in
Michigan. Or, if any of you know a resource that I can use to reference
this type of information, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!

Paul Skelton

Skelton, Paul's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

Paul,

This would really depend on the building type - sometime more than the
climate zone. CBECS is a good place to start as is the Architecture
2030 website. If you are looking at Labs, then the Labs 21 benchmarking
database is a great resource.

Vikram Sami, LEED AP

Vikram Sami's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

ENERGY STAR target finder?

David

David S Eldridge's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 2000

I was actually looking to compare to the ENERGY STAR target finder, the
numbers they generate are based on the CBECS, which Vikram and Bob also
mentioned. These, however, are existing buildings though and I guess
I'm more concerned with new construction and a ASHRAE Baseline model
performance, which I've seen in the 60 kbtu/ft2 range. Does ASHRAE
publish anything relative to maybe an average building EUI?

Paul

Skelton, Paul's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

You might try looking at NREL's DOE Commercial Building Benchmark Models at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/43291.pdf.

Paul Riemer

Paul Riemer's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

Paul

Skelton, Paul's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

http://www.newbuildings.org/sites/default/files/Energy_Performance_of_LEED-N
C_Buildings-Final_3-4-08b.pdf

Kind Regards,

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

I was just suggesting the same thing...

E-star's target finder is not the most crystal-clear of tools, but does
pretty much deliver what you're looking for.

Some nuances:

Choosing various energy sources (i.e. Grid Electricity vs. Bituminuous
Coal) does have an effect on the CO2 emission calculations, but not on
the resulting target/average energy results. Those energy figures are
not affected by the region your project is in, so it would be a stretch
to say you're getting a baseline of "Warehouses in Chicago." You will
however get a baseline btu/sf/yr that corresponds with your building
occupancy and size.

For further reading, I've attached a document I received on request from
the EPA, which details how source energy is dealt with currently... it's
informative if you need/want to understand what exactly the e-star
target finder tool is doing with regards to those "source energy" inputs
- which can have somewhat unintuitive effects on the results that are
churned out.

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

Nick-Caton's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 805

Paul,

The NREL Commercial Benchmark Models get updated regularly. I would
direct you to the following website for the latest:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial_initiative/new_construc
tion.html
You can also keep track of the changes to past models from this website.

Unless this has been updated again, I am attaching the latest EUI table
that I have on file for your reference.

Regards,

Umesh Atre, LEED AP

Umesh Atre's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

Paul,

Probably the best data source for average building energy use of similar
buildings might be the Energy Star programs Portfolio Manager and Target
Finder. Go to www.energystar.gov/benchmark

I also have a book from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) of average
energy use data on ten different building types for electric resistance
heated buildings and buildings that have fossil fuel space and water
heating in Boise, ID; Spokane, WA; and Seattle, WA. The ten building
types are:

1.
Small Offices (Approx. 5,000 FT2)
2.
Large Offices (Approx. 100,000 FT2)
3.
Small Retail (Less than 30,000 FT2)
4.

Large Retail (More than 30,000 FT2)
5.

Warehouses
6.

Restaurants
7.

Grocery Stores
8.

Hotels
9.

Schools
10.

Hospitals/Medical

Thanks,
David A. Bastow

David Bastow's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

Paul:

Try the link below for the DOE CBECS data. All kinds of information available.

Energy Information Administration - Commercial Energy Consumption Survey

Paul Diglio

Paul Diglio's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 400

Paul

Also check the following 2 locations for EUIs relative to ASHRAE standard 90.1-2004 etc.

http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm

And relative to various state baseline studies:

http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/baseline_studies.stm

Joseph J. Deringer, AIA, LEED AP

J Deringer at Yahoo's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

Sirs: May I ask if you know of any equivalent Baseline EUI guidance for residential buildings?

Thanks,
Jon Broadway, Ph.D., P.E.

Jon Broadway's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

I am not aware of similar baseline studies for the residential sector.
We have been historically using the RECS published data. See attached
document for EUI information.
More info at:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2005/c&e/detailed_tables2005c&e.htm
l

Another useful resource, though I understand this has been suggested by
others in the past too, is the
http://buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/Default.aspx

Umesh Atre's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

To All,

Is it possible to model a building with radiant slab heat (hot water loop)
and air conditioning? It appears to me that the eQUEST airside system type
for radiant slab heating is FPH (floor panel heating system), and that this
is "heating only".

Can anyone suggest a way to model a building that has both radiant slab
heating and DX air conditioning?

Thanks,

Rob Rosen

Rob Rosen's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0

Rob,

Select the system based on the DX air conditioning, then add hot water
baseboards for the radiant slab. Set your baseboard capacity, coil head,
loop temperature etc. to match the radiant slab heating system.

Regards,

William Bishop, EIT, LEED(r) AP

Bishop, Bill2's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 0