Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
 | 1 | initial version |
Actually BEopt's ERI is a a perfectly reasonable feature to have available. As an Architect I used REM/rate in the early days when it was free, this very useful tool was taken away from me because I could not justify purchase and training for my business. I've migrated to my own spreadsheets and calcs, HVAC-calc and BEopt which I have found to be very useful.
However I have no real sense of how well a building I am modeling is going to perform on the ERI scales.
It is my opinion that the REM/raters HERS industry/business is adequately protected by the hierarchical structure, training requirements, cost for the program, and more importantly the incentives and laws requiring certification.
Any numbers that BEopt would provide could be labeled "draft, not certified", which would protect those providing the certificates. This would allow BEopt to provide some estimated measure of performance that relates to a real standard, and provides a learning/training platform for Architects and others, also a rough check before building, etc.
Furthermore having BEopt provide these numbers only reinforces the standard and promulgates it.
I couldn't disagree more with this decision and hope that it will be changed. The REMrate and HERS industry has adequate protection through the required "certificates" and does not need this kind of reactive protection. When the time comes and the building is actually built, or remodeled, it will require REMrate or HERS services due to the building code energy standards.
| | 2 | No.2 Revision |
Actually BEopt's ERI is a a perfectly reasonable feature to have available. As an Architect I used REM/rate in the early days when it was free, this very useful tool was taken away from me because I could not justify purchase and training for my business. I've migrated to my own spreadsheets and calcs, HVAC-calc and BEopt which I have found to be very useful.
However I have no real sense of how well a building I am modeling is going to perform on the ERI scales.
It is my opinion that the REM/raters HERS industry/business is adequately protected by the hierarchical structure, training requirements, cost for the program, and more importantly the incentives and laws requiring certification.
Any numbers that BEopt would provide could be labeled "draft, not certified", which would protect those providing the certificates. This would allow BEopt to provide some estimated measure of performance that relates to a real standard, and provides a learning/training platform for Architects and others, also a rough check before building, etc.
Furthermore having BEopt provide these numbers only reinforces the standard and promulgates it.
I couldn't disagree more with this decision and hope that it will be changed. The REMrate and HERS industry has adequate protection through the required "certificates" and does not need this kind of reactive protection. When the time comes and the building is actually built, or remodeled, it will require REMrate or HERS services due to the building code energy standards.
