[Equest-users] Equest Base Model vs. ASHRAE 90.1

[David S Eldridge]

I know there is some work on a document to provide a framework for developers to implement automated (or even semi-automated!) generation of base cases within their software for various purposes.

Keep an eye out for that, I'm not sure of the current status or timing of it.  Even prior to implementation by any developers it will be a great resource for our community when we make these comparisons manually.

David
http://www.grummanbutkus.com

From: equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Nick Caton
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:20 AM
To: jwearstler at larseneng.com; Equest Forum
Subject: Re: [Equest-users] Equest Base Model vs. ASHRAE 90.1

At the moment, it's up to the end-user to be sure your baseline model is meeting the 90.1 minimum baseline criteria.  If you haven't already checked it out, Appendix G explains how the model is to be set up and calibrated to a level of performance (measured via unmet load hours) that's to be in the same ballpark as your proposed design.  If you apply all design criteria there into eQuest, then you're following 90.1.
...
Until the day comes when software developers are producing "intelligent" energy modeling software that makes evaluative decisions as effectively as a human being, I don't think the task of "generate a baseline energy model per 90.1" is even a feasible concept.  Even if such a (complex) feature was around to use, you'd still have to do a complete proposed model for the baseline to reference for geometries/occupancies/zoning/etc - building the baseline after that is not a huge relative investment of time in my experience...

In summary, I don't think effective/useful energy modeling for 90.1-based compliance is conceptually possible without involvement from a human that's at least somewhat familiar with 90.1's Appendix G - it cannot be automated without a degree of accuracy loss that I think most would find unacceptable.
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For the record, I do think a good "wishlist" item for the coming versions of eQuest, to facilitate easier, more consistent and less error-prone 90.1 baseline modeling for users of all experience levels, would be to create a library of 8 systems for use during HVAC system wizard-level definition (See attached screenshot/paint masterpiece for when/where/what I'm thinking).  These would define a set of defaults for one of the 8 standard baseline systems, but would still require the end-user to determine project specific wizard-level criteria (such as climate zone-specific economizer/high limit requirements and such).  I've noted that the recent 90.1-2007 and 90.1-2004 are identical in these definitions, so that lends some consolation that such efforts would not become "out-of-date" for some time to come.

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