A computational framework for low-energy community analysis and optimization

The increasing world-wide emphasis on net zero (NZ) or low-energy communities (LEC) has brought with it a concomitant requirement for high quality technical analysis and optimization to support planners. This paper describes a computational framework and reference implementation for LEC analysis and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ASHRAE transactions 2014-01, Vol.120 (1), p.130-130
Main Authors: Case, Michael, Liesen, Richard J, Zhivov, Alexander, Swanson, Matthew, Barnes, Benjamin, Stinson, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access control
Automation
Best practices
Communities
Computation
Computer simulation
Control
Dwellings
Energy consumption
Energy policy
Energy use
Housing
Low energy
Management
Mathematical models
Optimization
Simulation
Spreadsheets
Studies
Tasks
Tradeoffs
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Summary:The increasing world-wide emphasis on net zero (NZ) or low-energy communities (LEC) has brought with it a concomitant requirement for high quality technical analysis and optimization to support planners. This paper describes a computational framework and reference implementation for LEC analysis and optimization designed to automate many of the repetitive and time-consuming organizational, modeling, and optimization tasks involved in LEC planning. The framework incorporates whole building simulation, community-wide optimization of distribution and supply, geospatial data, and an overall approach to data organization that permits implementers to use their choice of modeling software. A reference implementation of the framework, the NZ planner was developed and tested at four Department of Defense installations. The results show decreased time to set up studies and to conduct simulations and optimization. This paper provides examples and discusses trade-offs between process steps that should be automated and those that are more appropriate for human judgment and experience.
ISSN:0001-2505