Effect of building size on energy use intensity

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Dear all,

Building size (or floor area) should have some influences on energy use
intensity (Btu per sq ft). Roughly speaking, heating energy use intensity may
decrease if the building size increases due to less surface area exposed to the
outside. However, cooling and lighting energy intensity (usually electricity)
may increase for the same reason. This sounds the case from a report below
except for small buildings (less than 5000 sq ft),
?A Look at Commercial Buildings in 1995: Characteristics, Energy Consumption,
and Energy Expenditures?

Anyone know there are some reports or research about detailed analysis about
influenences of floorspace on energy use intensity?

Thanks,

Jim

Jin Minming's picture
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Joined: 2011-10-02
Reputation: 0

Jim:

Have you seen the Energy Star Technical Methodologies?

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_portfoliomanager_model_tech_desc

It shows the regressions they ran on the CBECS database to determine the Energy Star predicted Source EUI.

This delves into similar issues ? for example, in the Office Tech Description, they discuss the correlation between the natural log of Building Area and Source EUI.

Aaron Dahlstrom , PE, LEED? AP

Dahlstrom, Aaron2's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 4

There was a presentation at the SimBuild 2010 in NYC for an office building
that was otherwise the same, identifying changes in energy usage due to the
shape of the floor plan and quantity of window area.

http://www.ibpsa.us/pub/simbuild2010/technicalPresentations/SB10-PPT-TS02A-03-Baker.pdf

David S. Eldridge, Jr., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, BEAP, HBDP

*From:* bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Dahlstrom, Aaron
*Sent:* Friday, April 08, 2011 9:11 AM
*To:* Jin Minming; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Bldg-sim] Effect of building size on energy use intensity

Jim:

Have you seen the Energy Star Technical Methodologies?

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_portfoliomanager_model_tech_desc

It shows the regressions they ran on the CBECS database to determine the
Energy Star predicted Source EUI.

This delves into similar issues ? for example, in the Office Tech
Description, they discuss the correlation between the natural log of
Building Area and Source EUI.

*Aaron Dahlstrom , PE, LEED? AP*

*From:* bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Jin Minming
*Sent:* Thursday, April 07, 2011 4:22 PM
*To:* bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* [Bldg-sim] Effect of building size on energy use intensity

Dear all,

Building size (or floor area) should have some influences on energy use
intensity (Btu per sq ft). Roughly speaking, heating energy use intensity
may decrease if the building size increases due to less surface area exposed
to the outside. However, cooling and lighting energy intensity (usually
electricity) may increase for the same reason. This sounds the case from a
report below except for small buildings (less than 5000 sq ft),
?A Look at Commercial Buildings in 1995: Characteristics, Energy
Consumption, and Energy Expenditures?

Anyone know there are some reports or research about detailed analysis about
influenences of floorspace on energy use intensity?

Thanks,

Jim

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

Thanks a lot for the information.

The method used in Energy Star is very interesting. Source energy may be the
most equiable arrpoach to provide a fair comparison if buildings use different
secondary energy sources. However, it may provide more clear relationship
between heaing or cooling site energ use intensity and independent variables
(HDD, CDD, floor area, etc.) if the regression is implemented for the buidlings
of using the same primary and secondary energy form.

Jim

Jin Minming's picture
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Joined: 2011-10-02
Reputation: 0