What information and data do I need to collect before starting a model?

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Chapter 2 of the COMNET Modeling Guidlelines & Procedures (MGP) Manual is a good place to start. The COMNET Manual can be downloaded from the following link: http://comnet.org/mgp-manual. In addition the NREL Technical Report publication NREL/TP-5500-46861 "US Department of Energy Commercial Reference Building Models of the National Stock" is an excellent resource. You can perform a Google search of the publication number above and go right to the document or use the following link: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/468.... Chapters 4 and 5 in this report give you a very detailed description of the author's approach to developing an energy model and the information required before starting a model. Enjoy your research.

What is the purpose of the model? Is this for an energy efficiency study for a utility? An illustrative "what if" scenario for a design team or a LEED certification study? The purpose of the model dictates what you information you need for the model. If you are doing an energy conservation measure (ECM) for an isolated section of a school building (DCV for a auditorium) the ventilation rate in the kitchen of the school doesn't matter in that instance.

What is currently known about the building? Will there be more information know about the building down the road? Is this schematic design (SD) or construction design (CD) or an existing building with a old design files and consumption data to calibrate too?

All those qualifiers aside. RMI has made a good template called the EMIT tool to add information to eQuest. Also, the wizard in eQuest is helpful for being led through that building categories can impact consumption in a building.

Tools: RMI page

Energy Model Input Translator (EMIT)

Now for any model you will need weather data. Larger discussion on weather information here: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/building...