Has anyone else noticed that the last few months have brought some interesting new trends to the industry? This has also been evident given the inquiries here at Energy-models.com. (I should probably follow up on some of the trends that are changing in the building simulation community- yes, I am a data nerd). While our typical support request is usually a request to rectify some error or anomaly, the last few months have seen a slight change. Our number 1 inquiry has been for “taking over” an existing project, and we have simply not been able to accommodate these requests. We have tried to help where we can, which has often meant sending someone a referral. The trouble is that we only know so many people who we feel confident in...
Energy Modeling Blog
Posted on: Nov 6, 2014
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Posted on: Sep 8, 2014
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It is very difficult to answer the question "What is Energy-modeling" in as few words as possible. Here is my latest attempt that will soon be edited and published in, Architectural Drafting and Design, published by Cengage, 7th Edition.
Definition of Energy ModelingEnergy modeling, short for Building energy modeling (often abbreviated as BEM), is the computer simulation of a building used to determine or estimate building energy usage. A virtual building is created in a software package, the building components are entered, and the building is simulated over the duration of 1 year using a weather file.
The components entered into the simulation are numerous and thus most energy models allow for some...
Filed under: Energy-modeling
Posted on: Aug 7, 2014
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I read an article a few years back about how energy-modeling was inaccurate. I disagreed with a lot of the articles premise, but not the energy-nerd’s conclusion. The article failed to specify that they were talking about residential energy modeling, which I thought was a cheap shot, because it is easier to miss the mark on poorly controlled buildings. My biggest problem with the article was that it blamed the software. I have a saying: If you want to blame the software, please consult a mirror first.
The software packages are not the main problem. Not even close. Barking up that tree is the calling card of someone who just wants to bitch about energy-...
Filed under: Energy-modeling
Posted on: Jul 15, 2014
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I remember learning Psychrometrics in college. It was in one of my early chemical engineering classes and was really just a footnote to our main syllabus. The Professor was walking through it on the chalkboard, and explaining this and that; I thought that it seemed rather intuitive and unimportant to my career path (the irony!). I stopped taking notes and decided to sit back and try to reason through it. Somewhere mid-lesson I must’ve started daydreaming because suddenly the bell rang, and class was dismissed. I didn’t look further into it.
A few weeks later, we had our midterm. I had studied everything in my notes. So naturally, about 90% of the mid-term was based on psychrometrics. I thought, “no big deal, I remember enough of...
Filed under: psychrometrics
Posted on: Jun 16, 2014
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The Steinbach Credit Union built a new 45,000 square foot, 3 story office building in Winnipeg, MB in 2009. The building featured a number of energy efficiency features, including high insulation values, efficient lighting, a green roof and a ground coupled heat pump (GCHP) system that uses the earth under the parking lot as its energy source.
If you’ve been in Winnipeg in January, you’ll have an appreciation for winter. Our winter design temperature is -28 F (-33 C), with extreme temperatures occasionally dropping below -40. This winter, as anyone in North America knows, the Polar Vortex blessed us with the coldest winter on record. We had 25 days when the temperature didn't get above -20 F in December and January.
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Filed under: GHXPolar Vortex
Posted on: Jun 11, 2014
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So, you want to use LEEDonline?
First thing, you must have Internet Explorer or Safari. It won't work in any other browser.
There's a list of other things but if you have used LEEDonline in the past, you will need to make some changes.
If you have 64 bit Internet Explorer, you will need to setup a 32 bit option. This is easy enough:
Go to your desktop Right click and create a shortcut Set the shortcut path to C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe Give the shortcut a name (something like "32 bit IE" or whatever helps you remember)Now, to make sure that this 32-bit version of Internet explorer operates in "compatibility mode":
Open the 32 bit version of IE. Go to LEEDonline.com Go...Posted on: Jun 4, 2014
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Hello Friends and simulators-
We get an awful lot of questions about modeling new systems, and rightly so. These often involve workarounds and many people do these workarounds differently. (Example, how do I model VRF in eQUEST?).
What are some of these cool "new" systems:
Chilled Beams Displacement Ventilation Underfloor Air DistributionWhile all these systems have their own time and place, newer does not always mean better.
Before getting caught up in the hype of any new, flashy system, make sure that you don't disregard high performance technology in conventional systems (example high performance VAV).
This is a great read, by an...
Filed under: Chilled BeamsTRACE 700VAV
Posted on: May 13, 2014
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We have seen a number incoming search engine links looking for "Energy-models.com coupon code"
If you want to try one of our courses, and you want a discount? How does 90% off sound?
For a limited time only, we are offering "Pay with userpoints", where you can earn points and use those points to pay for our products.
The best way to earn points is by referring others with your referral link.
Get your referral link on your user page Share your link by email, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, telegraph, smoke signals Earn 200 points = $20.00 off for each user who creates a FREE account. Use your...Posted on: May 7, 2014
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Attention MANAGERS and EMPLOYERS
You probably always hear about needing better software, and that may be true, but remember that faster cars require better drivers. The software is not the limiting factor. Not even close.
I know you are busy, so to move straight to the point: we have put together a free tutorial to help you hire quality energy-modelers, or which energy-modelers you should retain (who deserves a raise?)
In a nutshell, the course covers:
The 5 factors to evaluate in an applicant 20 example interview questions to help evaluate these factors (with answers) Red Flags to watch out for Ingredients to build... Filed under:
Posted on: Apr 28, 2014
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When we first published a map of LEED buildings per capita in 2011, we were accused of a political agenda by a few people. After the initial surprise and chuckle, our curiosity started to grow, after all, as energy-modelers we naturally gravitate towards analyzing data. So we asked ourselves, “What side would this map be on for a political agenda?”
Can you guess...
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