International. A new draft describing the methodology to be applied for energy modelling of buildings in the design process is open for industry feedback.
The ASHRAE 209P Standard, Energy Stimulation Aid for Design of Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential, defines the minimum requirements to be met for help in energy design using energy simulation and analysis.
The Proposed Standard is open for public comment until May 9, 2016. To make comments or learn more visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
"ASHRAE recognizes that energy simulation is most useful when incorporated into the design process to reduce energy consumption," said Jason Glazer, chair of the 209P Standards Committee. "The standard was created to advance the timely use of energy models to support how design decisions can affect energy use in the building when these design decisions are made."
While the preliminary versions of the proposed draft standard incorporated energy modeling into the divisions of the typical design process of schematic design, design development, etc., the committee realized that many tasks, data, and goals from each modeling effort were similar to create a "generic modeling cycle."
The draft standard was rewritten to incorporate the generic modeling cycle which was augmented with additional instructions to create several specific modeling cycles that were incorporated into the typical design process.
The 209P standard defines seven modeling cycles in the design phase with specific goals that are defined and coordinated with a typical design process, and three modeling cycles that are applied during the construction and operation phase of the building. Each modeling cycle is an extension of a general modeling cycle that can be applied at any time during the design process when energy modeling is needed to support design decisions. In addition, a post-occupancy comparison is included to help owners and modelers understand how model results compare to current energy performance and inform assumptions for future modeling projects.
"The minimum requirements of the standard can be met by using building energy modeling to assess load reduction measured early in the design process, as well as by adding a cycle in the design phase," Glazer said. "Other modeling cycles are included for organizations that want to adopt energy models with more robust requirements."
While the standard can be applied to any design, it is anticipated to be most effective when included in an integrative design process. The 209P standard is expected to be adopted by organizations that certify high-performance buildings as well as electric utility companies and agencies that provide incentives for low energy consumption in buildings and is also used by building owners and architects who are looking for a uniform way to specify guidelines for energy modeling of buildings.
