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Given a proposed building model, how can I automatically generate the "baseline" for code-compliance or LEED?

asked 2014-10-07 10:52:06 -0600

updated 2015-07-11 20:05:10 -0600

Can any software reliably generate the ASHRAE-90.1 ECB or Appendix-G baseline building given a model of the proposed building? What vintages of ASHRAE-90.1 are supported? Are any other codes supported, e.g., Title 24?

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answered 2014-10-08 19:54:11 -0600

updated 2016-10-05 19:08:12 -0600

OpenStudio is getting there and now has Standard 90.1 2004, 2007, and 2010 Components available on the BCL to generate baseline schedules, constructions, and loads relatively quickly. However, BCL Measures to create Appendix G HVAC systems are not available yet, although I'm guessing there are plans for them.

A motivated user could write Measures to automate the entire process of generating a baseline model complying with 90.1 Appendix G from a proposed model - i.e. overwriting the proposed components with the appropriate baseline ones and then changing the HVAC system(s). For example, my company has been developing some of the pieces to do this as time/projects allow - e.g. add Appendix G System # to the model and then set the VAV fan power coefficients.


Update: October 2016

OpenStudio now has a measure called Create Baseline Model available on the BCL.

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Update: OpenStudio version 1.13.0 (Sep 2016) will include baseline automation using the openstudio-standards gem.

MatthewSteen's avatar MatthewSteen  ( 2016-09-26 12:55:24 -0600 )edit

Thanks for the update, looking forward to it.

Dan McJacobson's avatar Dan McJacobson  ( 2016-09-26 16:39:13 -0600 )edit

I have updated to 1.13.0 and understand that the the automated baseline feature will be released as a measure. Any idea when it will be released?

Dan McJacobson's avatar Dan McJacobson  ( 2016-10-03 12:22:48 -0600 )edit

@aparker will know for sure.

MatthewSteen's avatar MatthewSteen  ( 2016-10-03 12:56:09 -0600 )edit
1

OpenStudio automated appendix G baseline creation instructions have been uploaded here:to youtube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AllpY...)

Dan McJacobson's avatar Dan McJacobson  ( 2016-10-05 17:37:57 -0600 )edit

@MatthewSteen are there any updates on the horizon to add 2010 capabilities and take 2007 out of beta?

willyJohan's avatar willyJohan  ( 2016-11-10 13:51:48 -0600 )edit

@will@stok.com">@will@stok.com not sure what you mean, the measure has 2007, 2010, and 2013 options.

MatthewSteen's avatar MatthewSteen  ( 2016-11-10 14:21:56 -0600 )edit

@MatthewSteen for some reason my dropdown list only has "90.1-2007 BETA" and "90.1-2013" perhaps I need to delete and reinstall...

willyJohan's avatar willyJohan  ( 2016-11-10 14:46:18 -0600 )edit

@will@stok.com">@will@stok.com - yeah try syncing. i looked at my old measure.rb and i do see that the choices include 2007 BETA and that 2010 is commented out due to this issue, which has beeen closed. https://github.com/NREL/openstudio-st...

MatthewSteen's avatar MatthewSteen  ( 2016-11-10 15:46:15 -0600 )edit

Yep, it's been updated with these choices.

# Make an argument for the standard
standard_chs = OpenStudio::StringVector.new
#standard_chs << '90.1-2004'
standard_chs << '90.1-2007 BETA'
# 1.13.1 onward supports 90.1-2010
if model.version > OpenStudio::VersionString.new('1.13.0')
  standard_chs << '90.1-2010 BETA'
end
standard_chs << '90.1-2013'
MatthewSteen's avatar MatthewSteen  ( 2016-11-10 15:48:26 -0600 )edit

I see the problem now, i am using 1.13.0, if the measure works with this version then '>' should be '>=' if i change this I now see "90.1-2010 BETA" as an option in the drop down. Thank you Matt. Any idea if I should be worried about using the measure with 1.13.0? it does not look like 1.13.1 is available yet.

willyJohan's avatar willyJohan  ( 2016-11-10 19:43:47 -0600 )edit
4

answered 2014-10-09 11:44:06 -0600

ajuran's avatar

updated 2014-10-20 10:21:00 -0600

Trace can do it. They've had all the library components for years, but just introduced automatic creation of the baseline model. I haven't used it, but have seen a model someone else did where they used it. It was a simple building/model, but the baseline looked pretty good.

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I wasn't very impressed by the Trace baseline due to a number of limiting factors once it's set up. For an experienced user, it's worth the extra time investment to not use their automatic baseline creator, IMO.

sgudeman's avatar sgudeman  ( 2016-11-29 13:38:12 -0600 )edit
3

answered 2014-10-20 15:37:52 -0600

updated 2014-10-21 14:58:20 -0600

IES-VE does it very well, and has capability for ASHRAE 90.1-2004, 2007, and 2010. There are a couple things the user has to edit- i.e. number of chillers & boilers- but it's very minimal. The baseline model is fully visible and editable, so it accommodates any required customization (such as with existing buildings). It outputs much of the LEED documentation in reports: i.e. LEED Online form Table EAp2-4 through 7. They have also included an interface to California's new Title 24-2013 API, CBECC-Com. Note that moderate knowledge of the VE is still required to create a baseline model. It is done in a series of steps, with the ability to alter inputs at each step.

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2

answered 2014-10-09 15:48:27 -0600

Phylroy Lopez's avatar

updated 2014-10-10 09:05:58 -0600

If you are in Canada and are doing LEED under the M/NECB code

EE4 does support this kind of work in a similar manner for MNECB 1997.

CAN-Quest (The Canadian version of eQuest) will support this for NECB 2011. The beta is out if you contact NRCan's OEE Janet.Hudy@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca for this. It is still under development.

As Matt has mentioned above. There is similar work to create the NECB 2011 standards into OpenStudio that is currently in development / proposal stage.

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2

answered 2014-10-11 09:06:07 -0600

yongqingzhao's avatar

updated 2014-10-11 21:43:26 -0600

eQUEST can do it also.But eQUEST is not currentlyable to perform a complete conversion of the proposed model input to a 90.1-2007 Appendix G compliant model.Detailed information can be shown in “Building Energy Use and Cost Analysis Program Supplemental Manual: LEED Compliance Analysis December 2009” Detailed information about the conversion as following:
image descriptionimage description

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@YQZ. What part of the conversion can it perform?

__AmirRoth__'s avatar __AmirRoth__  ( 2014-10-11 11:17:13 -0600 )edit

The pictures can not insert in the comments.So I have reedited the answer.

yongqingzhao's avatar yongqingzhao  ( 2014-10-11 21:46:21 -0600 )edit
0

answered 2014-10-08 00:01:22 -0600

Haytham's avatar

DesignBuilder v4.1 provides the functionality required for LEED and ASHRAE 90.1 modelling but is missing some enhanced features such as automatic baseline building creation, automatic simulation of the 4 rotations and a full set of LEED-specific report outputs.

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@Haytham. The thing I am looking is the enhanced functionality for automatic baseline creation. Thanks.

__AmirRoth__'s avatar __AmirRoth__  ( 2014-10-08 20:40:00 -0600 )edit
0

answered 2014-10-20 07:28:54 -0600

Generally I use Energyplus, but I know that IDA-ICE and IES-VE developed tools to create the baseline model automatically. A feedback from the users of those tools would be interesting. Regards

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Asked: 2014-10-07 10:52:06 -0600

Seen: 4,583 times

Last updated: Oct 05 '16