[Bldg-sim] Daylighting Calculations for LEED

[Nick Caton]

I would not characterize AGI32 as a "pretty rendering" generator - there
are more efficient and appropriate tools for that purpose.  I'm a critic
first, and don't like to speak glowingly of any program, but AGI32 is
best characterized as one of the more sophisticated photometric software
solutions among the other options, with a correspondingly difficult
learning curve... 

 

While I am proficient in AGI32 I do the bulk of my photometric work with
Visual, as it's what I'm fastest with.  

 

I do utilize AGI32 for photometrics/renderings/daylight work when I'm
(A) working photometrics from a Sketchup model - as I've worked out how
to move Sketchup into AGI32, (B) need to perform daylighting calcs or
studies, as Visual doesn't have this component, (C) special/complicated
applications, such as sports pool surface illuminance calcs, or (D)
required to use AGI32 for some extraneous reason.  My general aversion
is really only rooted in the (to me) unintuitive UI, which if were all I
ever used would be something I'm sure I could get used to.  Again I find
I get simpler work done much faster in Visual if only because it's what
I'm familiar with. 

 

Speaking specifically to daylighting with AGI32 - it could certainly be
easier, but AGI32 produces something I've struggled to achieve with
other packages: accuracy.  I can model my office building from my desk,
calculate the solar contributions at the current instant at a specific
point, then walk over and measure the exact same reading.  It helps that
I happen to know our actual glazing properties and have a local
calibration factor to apply to standard IES sky models.   

 

Let me offer a caution to you and anyone else seeking to get started
with daylighting studies, however:  There will be a learning curve with
any new software, yes, but do not make the mistake of assuming that if
you can operate a software package that you will not need to progress
along an independent learning curve for knowledge in daylighting!  After
generating your first believable rendering, it's easy to fall into
thinking you must know what you're doing.  Read the IES Handbook to
understand where their standard sky models come from.  Read up on the
CIE models as well.  Test yourself and measure your results with
existing spaces.  There is a lot to learn regarding the properties of
glazing that you probably weren't required to learn for energy
modeling/photometric software.  Daylight modeling is a specific skillset
that requires knowledge unique from the average photometric or
energy-modeling pro.  Just be careful to not treat it as simply learning
to generate numbers/pictures from another piece of software.

 

Speaking to another question you brought up:  AGI32 does import
Autodesk's dwg/dxf.  Turning those into into a high quality (and
accurate) daylight rendering however does not happen at the push of a
button.

 

PS: If you're just looking to do fast, simply sun angle studies without
interreflections/soft shadows, and the ability to generate a pretty
rendering, I think you'd find the (free) Google Sketchup to be right up
your alley.  The pro version offers Autodesk proprietary format support
among a myriad of other formats.

 

Phew!  I'm off for the weekend =).  Happy Valentine's everybody!

 

~Nick

 

 

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

PROJECT ENGINEER

25501 west valley parkway

olathe ks 66061

direct 913 344.0036

fax 913 345.0617

Check out our new web-site @ www.smithboucher.com 

 

From: Eric O'Neill [mailto:elo at MichaelsEngineering.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 3:34 PM
To: Nick Caton; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org; kwalkerman at gmail.com
Subject: RE: [Bldg-sim] Daylighting Calculations for LEED

 

Nick,

 

Thanks for the heads up, this looks like something worth looking into.
How was the learning curve with the program? And are high quality
renderings fairly simple to produce if you have a dxf file? They have
some nice photo-quality renderings on their website, but it'd be nice to
hear that it doesn't require gobs of time to produce.

 

Karen, we currently use Rayfront, and I think it takes some workarounds
to produce LEED documentation. I haven't personally used it, and I think
it has a pretty steep learning curve.  On the other hand, it does
produce some very nice renderings...If only reviewers appreciated pretty
pictures J

 

Eric

 

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Nick Caton
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 3:05 PM
To: Umesh Atre; Karen Walkerman; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Daylighting Calculations for LEED

 

I regularly use AGI32 for any daylighting studies, though I've not yet
been involved in a project where that credit was not handled by the
non-photometric options of documenting compliance.

 

Here's a quick writeup describing how you can use AGI32 to handle the
daylight factor grids for LEED 2.1 and 2009: 
http://www.agi32.com/kb/index.php?article=857

 

~Nick



 

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

PROJECT ENGINEER

25501 west valley parkway

olathe ks 66061

direct 913 344.0036

fax 913 345.0617

Check out our new web-site @ www.smithboucher.com 

 

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Umesh Atre
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 2:48 PM
To: Karen Walkerman; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Daylighting Calculations for LEED

 

Karen,

 

We have been using Daysim for the past few projects.

Regards,

Umesh

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Karen
Walkerman
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 10:58 AM
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: [Bldg-sim] Daylighting Calculations for LEED

Hi All,

What program do you use to complete the daylighting calculations for
LEED IEQ Credit 8.1 using the simulation method?

Thanks,

--
Karen

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