[Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost

Julia Beabout juliabeabout at yahoo.com
Fri May 13 07:21:39 PDT 2011


Omar,
This is cracking me up.  I don't think I've ever seen this much traffic on one 
issue!  LOL.
Regarding the manhours for a LEED model - my opinion is that the amount of time 
has much more to do with the level of certification the project is going for, at 
what point the modeling services are engaged in the design, and the type and 
complexity of the building (systems).  That's not to say the number of manhours 
is completely independent of building size (square footage), but its not 
particularly sensitive to it.  I find that that there is a high "low" and low 
"high" for modeling.  In other words, it's hard to complete an energy model in 
less than 60-80 hours (all said and done - paperwork, LEED responses etc), but 
it rarely take more than 250 hours.  (Although, some rare complex projects going 
for platinmum could take up to 350 hours).  Like others, I find the norm for a 
reasonably complex bldg going for LEED silver or gold typically requires between 
120 and 160 hours. 


Marcus  
Here's my two cents on below. I will look for the public comment period as 
well.  Thanks for the heads up.
I think the idea of incentivizing modeling early in the design is a great idea, 
but I think requiring it is completely inappropriate.  Perhaps it could be 
encouraged by awarding an extra (innovation? or EA cr 1?) point for starting 
modeling in schematic design.  Or, perhaps the credit could be restructured 
similar to the CX credits where in order to get the enhanced CX credits, you 
have to have the CX agent involved early in the design.  In some ways, the 
current set up already does this though with the progress points for increased 
levels of saving.  Quite frankly, if you are going for 50% savings, you're not 
gonig to get there unless you start modeling really early in the process.
  
I also think prescribing a certain minimum number of ECMs to look at is 
inappropriate and would probably have the adverse effect of discouraging energy 
modeling.  The appropriate number of ECMs is highly project dependent - based on 
building size, scope, complexity, type, level of LEED certification shooting 
for, and not least of all the owner's budget.  Let's face it, the vast majority 
of bldgs out there and that consume most of the energy in the US are (strip) 
malls, grocery stores, restaurants etc.  These projects barely event have a 
schematic, design and CD phase.  While we all love to work on the exotic, 
platinum level, cutting edge, bldgs that are likely to have a large budget for 
design, these are not the majority of bldgs consuming energy.  I think we should 
be doing more to encourage modeling and energy savings amongst the every day 
projects than the "sexy" projects.  It seems to me the best way to do this is to 
offer incentives in this direction in lieu of prescriptive requirements that 
could discourage/put off smaller projects from even attempting to incorporate 
modeling.  


Julia




________________________________
From: Marcus Sheffer <sheffer at energyopportunities.com>
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Sent: Fri, May 13, 2011 8:16:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost

 
If anyone has any good ideas about how to structure the LEED credits to end the 
practice of validation models at the end and encourage/require design phase 
modeling the folks on the USGBC EA TAG would love to hear them.  The current 
proposed credit language from the first public comment phase is listed below.
 
NC, CS, SCHOOLS, RETAIL, WAREHOUSE & DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, HOSPITALITY
Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase. 
The target must be established as kBTU per square foot-year of source energy 
use. This target must be mapped on the same scale as the baseline and proposed 
buildings, if the project follows Option 1.
 
OPTION 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation 
Analyze a minimum of at least nine efficiency measures during the design process 
and account for the results in design decision-making. Analysis can include 
energy simulation of efficiency opportunities, application of past energy 
simulation analyses for similar projects to the project, or application of 
published data from energy analyses performed for similar projects to the 
project (such as AEDGs).
 
A minimum of six energy efficiency measures focused on load reduction strategies 
appropriate for the facility must be analyzed. This analysis must be performed 
during the schematic design phase.
 
A minimum of three energy efficiency measures focused on HVAC related strategies 
must be analyzed (passive measures are acceptable). This analysis must be 
performed before the conclusion of the design development phase.
 
The results of the analysis must be summarized in a brief report or memorandum.
 
 
The next version of LEED will be going out for public comment again in July, I 
think, so please comment formally as well as discussing here.
 
Marcus Sheffer
Energy Opportunities, Inc/a 7group Company
1200 E Camping Area Road, Wellsville, PA  17365
717-292-2636, sheffer at sevengroup.com
www.sevengroup.com
 
From:John Aulbach [mailto:jra_sac at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 7:46 PM
To: Carol Gardner; Marcus Sheffer
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost
 
OK, Carol..now you threw the "bait" out there..older than dirt, eh?
 
I have done very limited LEED "type" modeling where you compare 20 walls and 40 
windows types (well, it seemed that way). Correct me if I am wrong, but a Base 
model must be built to comply with a certain level of ASHRAE 90.1 (now up to 
2010 ??). With all of the nuisances of eQuest 3.64, I am going to build the 
model from scrathc and put in all the relevant baseline data in by hand.  And, 
by the way, the ASHRAE baseline model might be an entirely different system.  I 
am just completing an EPACT evaluation (ASHRAE 90.1-2001) and the Baseline HVAC 
was screwe chillers, whereas the Actual building was packaged units with 
Turbocor compressors (ask me how I did that).
 
It very much depends on the complexity of the building. A 40,000 sf office or a 
500,000 sf hotel with casino facilites.
 
I am unfamiliar with the LEED paperwork to be filled out after the modeling has 
been done. But I would not do anything of this type in under 120 hours, 
preferably 160 hours. If the client thinks he can do better, let him.
 
Contingency, contingency.
 
We won't discuss how old CAROL might be..
 
John A.
 

________________________________
 
From:Carol Gardner <cmg750 at gmail.com>
To: sheffer at energyopportunities.com
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Sent: Thu, May 12, 2011 2:59:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost

Marcus,

You have inadvertently hit upon why IBPSA worked with ASHRAE to create a BEMP 
certification. That's Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP). 


Some of us who have been in the field for awhile began to worry a couple of 
years ago when so many new energy modelers began appearing on the listserv with 
questions. Their questions indicated a lack of training and experience that was 
worrisome. What made it worrisome was that they didn't seem to realize that they 
were as inexperienced as they were; they didn't appear to be pursuing training 
to learn how to do what they were doing; and we were uncertain as to how or if 
they were practicing quality control. We hoped that by creating a path to 
certification that we would give clients one more qualification to look for in 
their modelers.

If you have been in this industry for any length of time, and by industry I mean 
the overall construction industry, you know that you don't get a lot of chances 
if your work doesn't pan out. If your energy model says I have a LEED Gold 
building and I'm going to save $4,000/year and what I really get is LEED Silver 
and $1,000/year, I am not going to be happy. So, I will probably not give you 
any more work but, even worse for all of us, I'll start expressing doubts about 
the whole process. LEED - what is it good for?

So, now we all have more training, right? We read our ASHRAE Handbooks and 
technical manuals so we know how to model the difficult stuff. We can find any 
topic in the DOE2 Manuals, all of which are one line, available, and easily 
searchable. 


So now we are so good we can do these models in 40-80 hours. Really? Not me and 
I've been doing it longer than everyone, except you, John Aulbach. So I'm going 
to join Marcus in his rant because he's on to something.

It's up to us to not under bid this work. It's up to us to educate our clients 
about the importance of quality in this process. If they think they are getting 
the same analysis in 40 hours that they used to get in 120 hours, they need to 
be led around to rethinking that and to be reminded that GIGO.

Cheers,

Carol


Thu, May 12, 2011 at 2:31 PM, Marcus Sheffer <sheffer at energyopportunities.com> 
wrote:
In our experience a final model, done right, would take about 80 hours.
> 
>WARNING – frustrated modeling rant to follow:
> 
>Doing just a final model however completely misses the point as to why we model 
>– it is to guide design decisions!  
>
> 
>If I saw this RFP and all it asked me for was a model to determine LEED points, 
>during or after design, I would try to educate the potential client about the 
>purpose of modeling.
> 
>Unfortunately too many projects pursuing LEED are only doing the minimum when it 
>comes to modeling and almost completely missing all the benefits.  Too often the 
>“market” transforms only based on a least first cost denominator basis that 
>results in little real transformation.  Doing models to determine LEED points 
>does not transform the market, save any energy, and just circumvents the purpose 
>behind LEED. (the next version actually requires design phase modeling!)
> 
>Any “modeler” who does only final models without attempting to explain to the 
>owner why this is a bad idea should be “drummed out of the corp” in my humble 
>opinion.
> 
>The problem is that if you respond to this RFP with 120 or 160 or more hours to 
>really do the design phase modeling right, you will go up against the “modeler” 
>who claims to be able to do it in far less time.  So how do we get the folks who 
>issue the RFPs to ask for a proper scope of work so that they can compare fees 
>on a level playing field?  It is unfortunate that we are even having a 
>discussion about doing modeling work in opposition to its purpose.
> 
>Sorry for the rant but I feel better now. J
> 
>Marcus Sheffer
>Energy Opportunities, Inc/a 7group Company
>1200 E Camping Area Road, Wellsville, PA  17365
>717-292-2636, sheffer at sevengroup.com
>www.sevengroup.com
> 
>From:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org 
>[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of DembaNdiaye
>Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 4:28 PM
>To: Omar Delgado; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
>Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost
> 
>Omar,
> 
>I would expect, for a building this size, approximately 40 hours (multiply by 
>your hourly rate). The 40 hours include EAp2/EAc1 LEED documentation, and any 
>review you may have to respond to later.
> 
>Now, given that you have never done a LEED model, it will take you more time, 
>possibly up to 40 more hours.
> 
>HTH,
> 
>_______________
>DembaNDIAYE
> 
>From:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org 
>[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Omar Delgado
>Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 7:08 PM
>To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
>Subject: [Bldg-sim] Energy Model Cost
> 
>Greetings everyone,
> 
>I have a question regarding the cost of an energy model for a LEED project. 
>Every energy model I've done so far has been for 
>
>existing buildings, mainly for optimization purposes. However, I received an RFP 
>to model a five-story, 41,500 sq. ft. building
>that's currently on the design phase and is pursuing the LEED-NC Silver 
>certification. I really have no idea what would be a fair 
>
>price for this model since I'm going to have to use Appendix G (ASHRAE 90.1) to 
>evaluate the difference between the base 
>
>and proposed buildings. I don't know how much extra effort this will take. I 
>know the procedure, just haven't done it before.
> 
>Can you shed any light on this issue?
> 
>Thanks in advance!
> 
>Omar A. Delgado Colón, P.E., MEnvM., LEED AP BD&C
>Vice President
>EnerMech
>PMB 340
>130 Winston Churchill Ave.
>San Juan, PR 00926-6018
>Cel. (787) 224-6537
>odelgado at enermechpr.com
>info at enermechpr.com
>www.enermechpr.com
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Carol Gardner PE
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