Which kind of benchmarking is used in practical engineering projects?

asked 2015-03-27 14:21:53 -0600

Qi Jin
21 ●2

updated 2015-11-11 13:02:29 -0600

Hello Dear All, I have questions about the benchmarking and want to know how people handle this in practical engineering projects. As you know, we can find the code-minimum benchmark metrics, such as from ASHRAE Standard and some other associated code. In addition, we can also evaluate the target building 's performance using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, which applies the CBECS database as foundation. In my project, we determined three kinds of benchmarking, low level, medium level and high level, respectively.

"Low level" means the requirements values by the Net-zero Capable (NZC) buildings. Net-zero capable buildings are those buildings have sufficiently low energy usage.
"Medium level" indicates the typical energy benchmarking value according to the typical database or tools, such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool which based on CBECS database.
"High level" gives the minimum requirements from associated design standards, such as ASHRAE Standards.

So my questions are:

Which kind of benchmarking is used in practical engineering project?
What's your ideas about the above three benchmarking I listed?

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate that!

All the best, Qi

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Comments

Benchmark with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and Building Performance Database (https://bpd.lbl.gov/) is a good idea.

Yixing Chen ( 2015-10-05 22:51:49 -0600 )edit

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answered 2015-11-02 19:53:33 -0600

nickj
51 ●1

Please be more specific, because you mentioned the ASHRAE design standards, are you referring to benchmarking the EUI of a building? Or also talking about the thermal performance of a building?

After designing and working on several similar projects with clients whom have similar goals, it becomes easier to discern what the result will be. But as you already know its dependent on climate/building type/fuel type, etc.

Currently for benchmark analysis any information you can get from Energy Star portfolio manager would be good, also the numbers from CBECS. But it can be difficult to track down the exact information you are looking for and you generally run into problems of small sample size and just not enough information.

Nick