[bldg-sim] Utility Rates and eQUEST

[Mike Tillou]

Scott,
 
I think you should be using the actual electric utility rate and calculating electric consumption and electric demand costs because that's what the owner is going to be paying.  You should also be incuding taxes, monthly fees and any additional riders or tariffs that might apply.  It would be pretty tough to justify a blended kWh cost for a new construction project because in order to be relevant it would need to be based on the actual operation of the building.
 
Furthermore with regard to whether using the actual rate will hurt your modeling results....the goal of LEED is not to "win as many points as you can" but rather to promote efficient, sustainable buildings. The goal of using energy modeling should be to improve the overall building design.  If you don't like the results of the energy model make design changes untill you do.  
 
For example if your client has a demand ratchet and your building design creates a large summer cooling peak, the client will be paying for that all year long.  If you used a blended rate you won't see the effects of that in the utility cost.  
 
I hope this helps.
 
Mike
 
 
 
Michael Tillou, PE
etc Group, Inc.
PO Box 7 Williamstown, MA 01267
Ph. (413) 458-9870   Mbl. (413) 652-1087 

 
________________________________

From: bldg-sim at gard.com on behalf of Scott Runyon
Sent: Fri 9/30/2005 9:35 AM
To: bldg-sim at gard.com
Subject: [bldg-sim] Utility Rates and eQUEST



I am a new user of eQUEST and am trying to model a building for LEED energy savings purposes. I am comparing my design building to the ASHRAE 90.1 Code requirements of the same building. 

 

When setting up my electricity rates I can use Block Charges and Ratchets. If I was able to find an average rate per kWh, how much would this impact my energy reports? I am concerned that trying to get too complicated by using multiple types of rates could actually hurt my model more than help it.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Scott Runyon 
RMF Engineering, Inc.
Design Engineer

474 Wando Park Blvd, Suite 100 
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 
Phone: 843-971-9639 Ext. 108 
Fax: 843-971-9641 

 

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