[Bldg-sim] Balance point temperature for houses

[David Bryan]

Vikram -

The balance point tool looks extremely useful during the building design stages when it wpould be much more practical than a detailed energy model.
I look forward to its availability.
Do you intend it to be for commercial as well as residential buildings?  
In that case it would need a way to input code-required minimum ventilation rates with some heat exchange options.
The formula Qint = M*Cp UAbld x (Tdes-Tbal) looks odd. Maybe I don't understand the units, but should that be Qint = (M/hr*Cp + UAbld) x (Tdes-Tbal)?

Thanks,

Dave Bryan 
AIA, LEED 

AmerINDIAN Architecture 
Suite 100, 475 Cleveland Avenue North 
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55104    USA 

651-644-1586 phone 
651-644-7172 fax 

dbryan at amerindian.com 
www.amerindian.com 

<http://www.amerindian.com/>



Vikram Sami wrote:
>  
> I have been working on developing an analysis tool that extends the
> building passive envelope season based on a dynamic balance point
> analysis (see attached)
>
>
>
> Vikram Sami, LEED AP
> Direct Phone 404-253-1466 | Direct Fax 404-253-1366
>
> LORD, AECK & SARGENT ARCHITECTURE
> 1201 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30361
> Responsive Design * Technological Expertise * Exceptional Service
> www.lordaecksargent.com
>
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
> [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Chris
> Balbach
> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:27 AM
> To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
> Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Balance point temperature for houses
>
> Dr. Abaza :
>
> The TREAT (Targeted Residential Energy Analysis Tool) whole building
> energy simulation software package can determine a building's balance
> point (both heating and cooling) given the building description. One can
> construct a 'simple' model of a typical house in about 15 minutes, and
> TMY2 weather files for all 50 states are included for driving the model.
> It would be pretty simple to make some parametric runs varying both
> climate and envelope /infiltration to produce a range of balance point
> temps. We have found both insulation levels and air infiltration
> (tightness of the envelope) often have the greatest effect on the
> balance point of a given structure, along with the temperature setpoints
> used for heating and cooling. Significant internal gains, of course, can
> also drive the balance points.
>
> A 30 day fully functional version (free download) of the TREAT software
> is available from http://www.treatsoftware.com
>
> Best,
>
> _Chris
>
> Chris Balbach, PE, CEM
> Vice President of Research and Development
> 124 Brindley Street, Suite 4, Ithaca, NY 14850
> ph: (607)-327-1647
> http://www.psdconsulting.com
> http://www.treatsoftware.com
>
> Michael Blasnik wrote:
>   
>> In my experience from analyzing utility usage data with a floating 
>> balance point, the typical effective heating balance point in US homes
>>     
>
>   
>> will usually be in the range of 54F - 62F (for true heating climates).
>>     
>
>   
>> Newer homes are usually closer to the low end of the scale while older
>>     
>
>   
>> homes are on the higher end. Electrically heated homes tend to be on 
>> the lower end but it's not clear how much of that difference is the 
>> effects of vintage/thermal integrity vs. lower thermostat set points 
>> or zoning.
>>
>> There may be some published results in ACEEE summer study proceedings,
>>     
>
>   
>> but I can't recall any specific reference.
>>
>> Michael Blasnik
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Abaza Hussein" <ahussein at spsu.edu>
>> To: <equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org>;
>> <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:52 PM
>> Subject: [Bldg-sim] Balance point temperature for houses
>>
>>
>>     
>>> Could you please help. Is there any recent data or survey about the 
>>> balance point temperature of homes in the US. Is the 65F still 
>>> applicable?
>>> I appreciate any input.
>>> Dr. H. Abaza
>>> ECU
>>>       
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>>     
>
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