[BLDG-SIM] Architect's role in energy simulation

[Taylor, Chris]

I absolutely agree with what David Bryan said about architects being the
initiator of energy-conscious design.  As a firm, we choose our
consulting engineers based partly on their experience with, and
attitudes toward, sustainable design and LEED.    Unfortunately, there
are a multitude of other considerations that must be accounted for early
on in the design process.  We try to get the owner on board early, since
without his cooperation, we would just end up with the same old building
built the same old way.

About a year ago our firm began looking into building simulation tools
and settled on eQUEST.  It has a simple enough user interface through
the wizards that no extensive training was required.  We cannot afford
an in-house energy simulation specialist.  But this also means that we
cannot  conduct the detailed and highly accurate simulations that could
be done by a professional simulator.  We use it as a quick analysis tool
to evaluate the energy savings of different design strategies to help us
tell the owner if the payback is worth the initial expense.  We do
initial architectural design strategy studies and leave the Title 24 and
energy calculations to the engineers.

Until simulation tools become intuitive enough that architects can use
them without extensive training, I don't foresee them becoming
widespread for any but the most complex of buildings.  But even more
than that, I want to see a simulation tool that will allow me to take a
drawing and import it straight from AutoCAD - no tracing, no redrawing,
just using the drawings that I already have.  These days, building
designs are input into the computer very early in the design phase and
building simulation programs need to recognize that if they are ever to
be used by more than a handful of professionals.  What is out there
right now does not recognize the way architects work, but just adds one
more thing I have to learn to my workload.

As for the comment that schools need to teach the technical aspects of
building more, I agree.  My old university has gone from offering a few
electives when I was there to multiple classes and studios that focus on
sustainable design, professional practice, and yes, even energy
simulation tools.  The change is happening, but it might take a few
years for the current crop of students to get into a position in the
workforce where they can influence production.

Regards,
Taylor 

C. Taylor                                                               
Hardison Komatsu Ivelich & Tucker Architects
538 9th Street Suite 240
Oakland, CA 94702
(510)625-9800
(510)625-9801 fax
www.hkit.com

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