Givler, Todd; Christensen, Craig; Brandemuehl, Michael
July 2006
Proceedings of the ASME International Solar Energy Conference - Solar Engineering 2006, International Solar Energy Conference , Volume v2006 Pages: 6
This study used the BEopt (Building Energy Optimization) software to simulate multiple energy efficiency measures and evaluate their combined effect on a standard Habitat for Humanity building design in four climates. Habitat is an international non-profit organization that works to provide suitable housing for low-income families. BEopt runs DOE2 and TRNSYS in a series of building simulations to find cost-optimal building designs that achieve various levels of energy savings. Optimizations for Habitat housing resulted in a cost optimal curve for each climate. Also plotted with these curves is a point representing the local Habitat affiliate standard construction practice. This point designates an energy savings level and an energy-related cost for that particular design. However, the BEopt optimal curve for HFH identifies other designs that save more energy and at a lower monthly cost than the affiliate current design. Recommendations for each climate are based on the point along the optimization curve where the monthly energy-related costs reached an absolute minimum. These recommendations identify the components to be included in the optimal design, as well as variations that lead to alternate designs that achieve essentially the same energy savings and costs.Source: www.engineeringvillage2.org