If you're a LEED AP you passed a pretty difficult test, so how difficult could a LEED energy model be? Well, doing an energy-model is one thing, but doing a LEED energy-model is another. With countless nuances in LEED modeling, it takes a decent bit of experience to get good at modeling for LEED. To be honest, I have seen some horrible models. In fact, in my years working in TRACE 700 support, I've told many LEED APs that he or she would save money by sub-consulting the project to a firm with more experience.

How can you avoid this? Well, we recommend making friends and getting training! We offer a low cost "LEED for Energy-Modelers" trainings available to get you started. Check out the free LEED energy modeling cheat sheet, which contains dozens of tips and gives a common step by step procedure on what a modeler would need to accomplish in energy-modeling software.

The other most important thing when doing models is to have an experienced friend or a paid consultant on standby. A good idea is to get involved in a community. We recommend joining the Onebuilding.org mailing lists, as well as participating in our energy modeling user forum

Are you a LEED AP? Do you know the ins and outs of energy-modeling?

If you can answer yes to both of these questions your portfolio will be on hyper-drive. Here, we are going to outline the TRUE importance of an Energy-model in LEED certification. In fact, we'll quantify it and also answer some beginner questions if you are new to the subject. We are also going to help you decide whether to do a model in house or hire a consultant (and also help you to avoid getting ripped off if you do hire a consultant).

What is LEED energy-modeling?

When someone refers to LEED energy-modeling, they are almost always referring to LEED Energy and Atmosphere credit 1, and likely Energy and Atmosphere pre-requisite 2.  Also refer to our "What is energy-modeling page".

Why is it important for a LEED AP to know energy-modeling?

Well, the answer is simple math (and as a LEED AP, you are probably pretty good at math). There are 110 possible credits for a LEED building including all bonus points. Energy and atmosphere credit 1 is the single largest credit, with up to 19 points. Just how many of the total LEED points is this? Well, let's look at a pi chart of all the LEED points by credit:

TRACE 700 has an armada of features. Some of them are way under-utilized. Let's take a moment to look at a few of them and see how they can be used:

1. Metric/English Units: By going to the options menu and selecting units, one can convert from English to metric units with a click of a button. Maybe this sounds obvious, however, many people forget about this when working in English units and viewing the ECB/PRM report. Changing units, then viewing the report will give you the values in kW-hr, and KW.
2. Summary information: Under assign rooms to systems, a summary information checkbox is listed. When checked, this box will give information about any room, rooms, systems or entire project such as square footage and estimated loads. This is great for finding differences between systems in multiple alternatives.
3. Import Equipment: TRACE 700 can import equipment from the  TOPSS (Trane product selection program). Just ask for the file from your local rep and import it under Libraries and cooling equipment.
4. The Plant Wizard: Anytime you wish to setup a plant in TRACE 700, especially something you haven't done before, consider using the plant wizard button under Create Plants (remember, it will delete all plants that are existing)
5. Import Glass types: While TRACE 700 uses center of glass properties, it can import data from a program called WINDOW (4, 5, or 6.x) to get more accurate information.
6. Checksum Select: On the first tab of the results screen, there is an option for "Checksum Select" whenever any checksums reports are selected. This option allows the room, zone, or system checksum reports to be limited to a selection. This is great for quickly navigating when only a few rooms/systems have priority, or when attempting to print only a few of the room checksums, rather than wasting potentially hundreds of pages and hours of time
7. New file based on: One can use new file based on to start a new file using ANY alternative from an existing file. This is done by closing all projects in TRACE 700 and going to file and selecting New --> New file based on (or CTRL + B)
8. New file wizard: Very few people seem to know about this. This is done the same as #7, but selecting new file wizard instead. One can complete a file in a few minutes if using it for strict comparison (please note, many templates will be displayed, but DON'T edit them all since only a few of them are actually used in the rooms)
9. Import GBXML: Yes, TRACE 700 can import GBXML files. 
10. Trace 700 Visualizer: When looking at the analysis reports, there is a button labeled, "Graph Profiles and Energy". This launches the TRACE 700 visualizer, which can be used to breakout hourly variable, graph them or load them in excel.

We all  know it: Humans have not yet evolved to work in an office environment. We are just not built for it. As someone who likes to stay fit, but also loves triple baconators from Burger King, I've come up with a few tricks to stay fit.

We've all heard of the Freshman 15 in college. But, nobody ever talks about what I would call "the 5 year 50" (by the fifth year in the office, many guys have gained 50 pounds since college).

Before we start, what's a typical day like for an engineer:

Well, we start with our morning caffeine intake, and maybe breakfast. By lunch, we are starving and often gorge ourselves so that by 2 pm, we are near comatose and need a boost. We often grab a soda or something with caffeine. This gets us through the day so that we crash about three hours later at home and then have zero energy to exercise. We rinse (shower) and repeat.

Not to mention the indoor environment and exposure to others causes us to get sick more often, and also prevents our recovery. There are also a number of factors that make us perpetually feel like crap (we'll discuss those)

It's all about feeling good. If you feel good, you will actually WANT to do something active. If you feel crumby, you will want to lounge and eat.

Here's some tricks I've come up with:

1) Carry a bottle of drinking water with you at all times.

Even if you don't drink it at first, you eventually will. Just make sure the bottle is easy to open and somewhat pleasant looking. We all get bored at work and we tend to snack because of it. Eventually, you will find yourself sipping it, which will reduce other cravings (the body often misinterprets dehydration as hunger).

Many users do not know that you can use this website to network with other energy-modelers by adding them as friends, which allows you to post on each  others profiles, and follow each others forum posts more easily.

Also, if you want more control of this website, it is automatically granted so that you get more control as you provide more useful content (and prove that you are a respected member of the community).

The many intricate details of the website make it rather large and the site runs much faster using Mozilla Firefox or Google chrome! It's a modern web design, use a modern browser!

Click play on the following to learn more about the site. It may take about thirty seconds to load. Don't forget to go full screen. You can even navigate manually by clicking objects with your mouse and zoom in/out with your scroll wheel.

We wrote the jokes in the blog, but these offer more!

Another reason for energy-models

Author: Robert Fassbender

Posted on: November 11, 2010

          Bring up any topic regarding the environment and you will be sure to hear at least two opinions. Actually, if you bring up any topic to a group of 10 engineers, you will probably hear at least 9 different opinions. This is true when talking about energy-modeling.

          To avoid argument, let's consider energy in terms of absolute truths. Apart from members of the "Flat-earth society", almost everyone considers scientific law to be an absolute truth. So, let's look at energy-modeling in terms of Laws. With it being related to energy, there is no better place to start than the Laws of Thermodynamics. 

 

• energy modeling

Simplifying Shading eQUEST and TRACE 700

Author: Robert Fassbender

Posted on: November 11, 2010

While eQuest and TRACE 700 have excellent shading algorithms (basically the same algorithm in both software pacakges), the complex input of some shading devices is intimidating to new users of the program, and often overwhelming for experienced users. I would like to propose a method to simplify shading for most applications to that of a simple overhang.

Consider this overhang:

Let’s say for now, that is possible to simplify nearly any fixed shading application to such an overhang.

There are only two sets of conditions we need to consider:

1. The percent of the area shaded when the sun is at the horizon (Θ = 0 degrees)
2. The incident angle of the sun (Θc) where the window is completely eclipsed by the shading device. Let’s call this the “critical angle” or Θc

For illustrative purposes, let’s say we have a trellis with a 2” x 12” boards spaced 12” apart as shown here:

• eQUEST
• technical

Is insulation the best energy saver?

Author: Robert Fassbender

Posted on: October 11, 2010

Is insulation the end all energy saver? In some climates, this is 100% yes, especially climates that need mostly heating, or climates that need tons of cooling. However, proper insulation selection requires an energy model in many cases. Please note that the purpose of this article is to illustrate the importance of energy-modeling and to get users to think about preconceived notions. (I’m sure I’ll get an email from an insulation manufacturer)

Let’s take a look at a climate such as Dallas, Texas:

Like many climates in the U.S.A., it requires mostly cooling, but requires a decent amount of heating. Many commercial buildings do not require any heating until the outdoor ambient temperature reaches 45 degrees F (due to heat coming in the windows, and heat from lights, people, pc’s etc.).

If the building temperature for cooling is 75 degrees, that means there is a 30 degree range - where insulation actually costs more energy (anytime the outdoor temperature is between 45-75 degrees F). In these cases, heat is actually “trapped” inside the building by the excess insulation (kind of like when you jam your entire extended family in a room on Christmas eve).

• energy modeling
• research
• technical

Top 10 building simulation company list

Author: Robert Fassbender

Posted on: October 6, 2010

I realized a long time ago that the energy-modeling community is all too often very cynical and often forgets the ideals that started this movement; chiefly, doing the right thing. Too often I find the industry littered with self interested saboteurs and infiltrators. Anyone who has been to a number of ASHRAE meetings will have noted the huge corporate vesting going on, and I understand that's part of what makes the industry successful.

However,  I want to take a moment and give a shout out to a few skilled and positive companies.

Here's a list of 10 of the best software simulation companies whose work I have seen (in no particular order). And no, I don't have stock in any of these companies (except Arup, no, I'm kidding).