Methodology for Modeling Building Energy Performance across the Commercial Sector

Abstract

This report uses EnergyPlus simulations of each building in the 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) to document and demonstrate bottom-up methods of modeling the entire U.S. commercial buildings sector (EIA 2006). The ability to use a whole-building simulation tool to model the entire sector is of interest because the energy models enable us to answer subsequent "what-if" questions that involve technologies and practices related to energy. This report documents how the whole-building models were generated from the building characteristics in 2003 CBECS and compares the simulation results to the survey data for energy use.

Changing ventilation rates in U.S. offices: Implications for health, work performance, energy, and associated economics

“…The estimates of the energy cost of increased ventilation, derived from the model predictions [1,14] also have a significant uncertainty. To check these estimates, we calculated energy costs using results of our in-house modelling with the EnergyPlus program of prototypical small, medium, and large office buildings located in five climates with VRs of 8 and 13 L/s per person.…”

“…The primary analyses of the energy cost of changing VRs in scenarios 1through 3 were based on simulations [1,14] showing Because implementation costs for scenarios 1 through 3 were expected to be small relative to benefits, implementation costs were only estimated for scenario 4, the addition of economizers, and the estimate is very approximate. We obtained unpublished estimates of the initial costs of economizer systems that were used in the development of a national building energy standard [16].…”

Assessment of the Technical Potential for Achieving Net Zero-Energy Buildings in the Commercial Sector

“…This report is closely related to a second report that presents the methodology for how detailed EnergyPlus engineering models were developed from 2003 CBECS data and compares simulation results to survey results (Griffith et al 2008). …”

“…The current ZEB assessment is the second part of a study. The first part of the study is documented in the separate report by Griffith et al (2008). The analysis framework for the assessment requires an automated approach, because manual methods would not be feasible for such a large number of building models.…”

Solar Deployment System (SolarDS) Model: Documentation and Sample Results

“…Figure 8 illustrates the process of generating the demand reduction library. (Griffith et al 2008). EnergyPlus models energy use in buildings, including heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting loads.…”