creating a positive impact: building performance analysis in early design
TRANSCRIPT
AIA PITTSBURGH
A217
Creating a Positive Impact: Building
Performance Analysis in Early Design -CPI_BP15 Pete Jefferson, PE, M.E. Group – Speaker
Jon Szczesniak, LEED BD+C Bohlin Cywinski Jackson – Speaker
Steven G. Haines, Assoc. AIA, Centerbrook Architects - Speaker
Jeff Light, AIA, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni – Moderator
April 23,2015 1 LU/HSW HOUR
Credit earned on completion of this
course will be reported to AIA CES for
AIA members. Certificates of
Completion for both AIA members and
non-AIA members are available upon
request.
This course is registered with AIA CES for
continuing professional education. As such, it
does not include content that may be
deemed or construed to be an approval or
endorsement by the AIA of any material of
construction or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any
material or product.
_______________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods,
and services will be addressed at the conclusion
of this presentation.
Course Description
Learning Objectives
1. (Identify the key benefits of early Building Performance Analysis)
2. (Recognize where in the process it is most beneficial to incorporate Building Performance Modeling.)
3. (Discuss key steps in the Performance Analysis Process)
4. (Identify the key important output of software analysis)
At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:
This panel discussion will address the reasons to use building performance analysis software tools and how these tools
can be used in-house versus outsourcing to modeling firms. Panelists representing different viewpoints and
approaches will provide information relevant to many firms deciding whether or not to invest resources into these tools.
Additionally, the panelists who utilize in-house personnel will discuss how those individuals learned or were trained to
use these new programs. Further discussion will focus on how early analysis tools can be leveraged by A/E teams early
on in pre-schematic design to shift construction costs from mechanical systems to architecture with the benefit of
improving envelopes. This typically results in “cost savings” in lieu of “paybacks” because the relative costs of active
systems (mechanical/electrical) are typically very high. Through this course, participants will be able to identify the key
benefits of early Building Performance Analysis, recognize where in the process it is most beneficial to incorporate
Building Performance Modeling, discuss key steps in the performance analysis process, and identify the key important
output of software analysis.
Building Performance Analysis in
Early Design – What is Coming
Jon Szczesniak, LEED BD+C
Building Performance Analysis in Early Design – How to Get Started
Steven G. Haines, Associate AIA
Managing Director
40 Years of Sustainable Design
• Every Project Every Day
• Early Energy Modeling
• Benchmarking
• Support from firm leadership
• Establish core group
• Empower experts
• Individual responsibility
• Platform for knowledge
• Incorporate into process
Schedule- The “Card Trick”
Residence Hall
(Conceptual Design) Scheme 1
Scheme 2
Scheme 3
Scheme 4
Synagogue Community Center
(Conceptual Design)
• 3 Separate Sefaira Concept Projects for additions
• Educational Wing data exported to adjust for summer schedule.
• Sefaira Support has reviewed the ASHRAE 90.1 2007 baseline inputs
Museum
(Interview)
Flat Roof / Box Scheme Curved Roof / Pref Scheme
Cooling loads reduced by
insulation, high performance
glazing, and shading
Spaces that do not require natural
light are set into the hillside for
natural insulation
Fresh air intake on north side,
green roofs, and adjacent forest
substantially reduce cooling load
Abundant natural light serves most
of building
Solar gain on south facade
reduces heating need
Lighting and cooling electric loads
below stringent standards (AIA
2030 Challenge) Conceptual Energy Model Findings (Sefaira)
Building Performance Analysis in
Early Design – The Engineer’s
Perspective
Pete Jefferson, PE, LEED-AP, HBDP
My Goal
Conceptual Design SD / DD / CD
What you can figure out early
1. Climate
2. Mass & Form
3. Daylight
4. Energy
5. Natural Ventilation
6. Thermal Comfort
7. Plant Size
8. Net Zero Feasibility
9. Thermal Mass
Baseline +
Targets Load
Reduction
Passive
Strategies
Active
Strategies
Occupant
Engagemen
t
Renewables
Deep E
nerg
y
Reductio
n
Energ
y U
se
Net-Zero
The Low Energy Path (Architecture 2030 gets it right)
The Low Energy Path (Architecture 2030 gets it right)
Baseline +
Targets Load
Reduction
Passive
Strategies
Active
Strategies
Occupant
Engagemen
t
Renewables
Net-Zero
Where most
modeling focuses
Energ
y U
se
Baselines + Targets
What amount of energy does this
type of building typically use?
What are achievable goals –
conservative aggressive.
What do I think about the climate
I’m working in?
What problems are we trying to
address?
Load Reduction
What’s the impact of manipulating
the form, mass and program on our
loads and energy use?
What happens when I challenge
typical temperature setpoints? Can
I create “thermal buffer zones”?
What happens to the mechanical
plant size when we upgrade the
building envelope?
How can costs be taken OUT of
HVAC systems and put IN to great
architecture?
What are the trigger points that
achieve big energy savings from
the plant?
Passive Strategies
How do I manipulate the form to
leverage natural or mixed-mode
ventilation as much as possible?
Is passive solar heating a
possibility? What needs to happen
with the program to accomplish it?
Case Study – Health & Human
Services Project
Case Study Progression – Step 1 (less glass + better glass)
67% Glazing: U-0.28, SHGC-0.41, VLT-70%
43% Glazing: U-0.28, SHGC-0.30, VLT-71%
Case Study
Step 2 – Target the rest of the envelope
CHANGES MADE:
• Roof R-20.8 -> R-30
• Walls R-15.6 -> R-27
• Added exterior shading Initial Cost Premium:
40.0
45.0
50.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
80.0
$220,000
Energy Savings / Year: $31,450
Payback: 7.2 years
÷
Baseline
Enhanced
Case Study
Initial Cost Premium: $220,000
Energy Savings / Year: $31,450
Results:
• Immediate cost savings
• On-going energy savings
• 40% reduction in cooling airflow rate
• Reduced from two AHUs to one
• Better acoustics, higher ceilings,
more usable square footage
• We still haven’t talked about HVAC or
lighting upgrades
- HVAC Savings: ($235,000)
Total Savings: $15,000
Step 2 – Target the rest of the envelope CHANGES MADE:
• Roof R-20.8 -> R-30
• Walls R-15.6 -> R-27
• Added exterior shading
Baseline
Enhanced
40.0
45.0
50.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
80.0
Beware… (Good intentions can lead to unintended consequences)
Example: “The envelope isn’t that important because it’s a cooling dominated
building in a heating dominated climate.”
Example: “The envelope isn’t that important because it’s a cooling dominated
building in a heating dominated climate.”
Takeaway This is all really just about energy flows.
Model Glazing %
30% 40% 50%
Energy Usage
(kBtu/sf/yr) 65.3 62.1 58.7 “More south facing glass
is good.”
Takeaway Nobody should do this in a vacuum.
Model Glazing %
30% 40% 50%
Energy Usage
(kBtu/sf/yr) 65.3 62.1 58.7
67.1 69.6 72.0 With internal shades
Recap of Learning Objectives
1. The key benefits of early Building Performance Analysis are:
- New technologies allow for better understanding of the impact of the architecture on building
performance.
- Building designers can influence the design in such a way that allows for form to facilitate performance.
2. It is most beneficial to incorporate Building Performance Modeling into the design process during: - Conceptual Development – prior to setting the building form/mass.
- Schematic Design before the final form of the building is set or systems are selected.
3. The key steps in the Performance Analysis Process are: - Use modeling to evaluate the impact of various building forms.
- Select the optimal form that achieves the targeted goals.
- Refine the selected form to optimize energy, daylighting, and other sustainable design principals.
- Evaluate feedback – make certain that all the experts review the process and results.
4. The important output of software analysis is: - Metrics relevant to energy, day lighting, thermal comfort, and passive opportunities.
- More meaningful discussion about performance early in the design process where it can have more of
an impact.
- Shifts the thinking from an HVAC- driven approach to efficiency, to an architecture first approach .
This concludes The American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Course
AIA PITTSBURGH – BUILD PITTSBURGH 2015
Creating a Positive Impact: Building Performance Analysis in Early Design April 23,2015 -CPI_BP15 1 LU/HSW HOUR
Pete Jefferson, PE, LEED-AP, HBDP
Jon Szczesniak, LEED BD+C
Steven G. Haines, Associate AIA
Jeff Light, AIA
QUESTIONS and DISCUSSION