Autodesk Solutions for Energy Auditing

Presenter: Brian Lee

Application Engineer and Instructor at CAD Masters, Inc.

A little intro

Autodesk best known for their AutoCAD software, it specializes in engineering and construction software and also VFX software seen in movies. Headquartered in San Rafael, CA.

CAD Masters, Inc. an Autodesk Authorized Reseller for the Northern California region. Offices in Sacramento and Walnut Creek.

Me: One of the Application Engineers and Instructors at CAD Masters, Inc. I train Autodesk-based software for civil engineering, architecture, and MEP. Currently consulting with BART for substation retrofits. Also an early adopter in many ways (3D Scanners, VR).

What will we be covering today?

Autodesk Infraworks Preliminary design and rapid energy modeling

Autodesk Green Building Studio Cloud-based energy calculations

Autodesk Revit Building design software (For BIM)

Autodesk Civil 3D Civil design software

Autodesk Simulation CFD Fluid calculation software

Live Demo (Scary!)

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Issues:

The facility in operation has been in place for decades. Changing it would be a major task.

Change is constrained by available funds.

There are more than just a few facilities which need maintenance.

There is no clear direction for what to change or simply, we dont know where to begin.

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Approach #1:

The first step toward a green building is to compare the current facility with others similar to it. This can be done by using monthly utility data.

By looking at averages, we can determine whether a building is a poor, average, or a good performer.

This is known as a benchmark.

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Approach #2:

Use software to generate otherwise unavailable data.

A conceptual 3-dimensional model (nothing fancy) is created and placed correctly onto a map.

Software will use the location of the 3d object and connect to nearby weather stations and report it back.

General information is then attached to the 3D model. Examples are: Building use, thermal characteristics of the enclosing objects (such as walls), or percentage of window glazing on the exterior.

Data is sent to Green Building Studio and reports are generated to provide general energy use trends.

This is known a Rapid Energy Model (REM).

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Benchmark Analogy (If buildings were human):

Fred measures his weight every month and compares it to a chart with others across the country with the same height and age.

He knows if hes overweight, underweight, or average.

This information helps him decide whether he should go see the doctor, eat healthy, or exercise.

Fred, however, will not know if he has any underlying conditions which may cause his weight gain.

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Rapid Energy Model Analogy:

Victoria likes to read the Nutrition Facts on the side of food containers.

She is fully aware of how much caloric intake her body needs for a person of her height and weight.

She can make broad decisions on where to go with her diet based on those nutrition labels and serving sizes.

Victoria also cannot be certain if she has any underlying health issues

So You Want to Reduce Energy Waste

Investment Grade Energy Audit:

ASHRAE Level 1 would be akin to having a physician perform a health checkup and give advice for glaring abnormalities.

ASHRAE Level 2 would be a doctor performing blood tests and urine samples.

Investment Grade Energy Audits would be like hiring a personal trainer who sets up a daily regimen and monitors every vital statistic to bring the person up to health.

Energy Use Measurement: Summary of Approaches

Benchmarking How does the energy use profile of my facility compare with others like it across the country? Is it good, average, or bad? Benchmarking is a simple path to drive action. (E.g. Utility Bill)

ASHRAE Level 1 (The Walk-through) This is a quick evaluation of the building performance with a quick audit and minimal amount of interviews. Although the goal is to identify major problems, this step can help to prioritize needed energy saving projects.

Rapid Energy Analysis A massing model is introduced to perform simulations. This method provides a good prediction of energy use while using minimal effort.

ASHRAE Level 2 Traditional Energy Modeling Investment Grade Energy Audits This level provides a detailed account of

energy and water use. As the cost to retrofit will be significant, a return on investment (ROI) calculation will be in order.

Source: Autodesk Rapid Energy Modeling for Existing Buildings - http://www.youtu.be/5QB7RLD6Ko4

Why Use Rapid Energy Modeling?

A method to perform energy audits with good results without expending many resources.

Iden

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Pote

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En

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Sav

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Resources (Time, Money, Data)

Methods:

Benchmarking ASHRAE Level 1

Rapid Energy Modeling

ASHRAE Level 2

Traditional Energy Modeling

Investment Grade Energy Audit

Source: Autodesk Rapid Energy Modeling for Existing Buildings - http://www.youtu.be/5QB7RLD6Ko4

Autodesk Infraworks

Autodesk Infraworks is a visualization tool with some analytical tools built into it

It is capable of importing data from several sources (some are free!)

Its use is similar to Google Earth but with the addition of being able to design right from the software

We will be using it for Rapid Energy Modeling (REM)

Infraworks

Identify location of interest

Gather data by scouring the internet for free data sources http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer

http://atlas.ca.gov

Google Earth

Many more!

Connect data into Infraworks

Identify important features and create styles

Create conceptual models

Export to applications which have more fine-grained tools for accomplishing the task

Present and gather feedback!

Infraworks

Live Demo

Green Building Studio

Online (Cloud) service which connects with several Autodesk-based software

The tool is scalable, it can either accept a rough conceptual model with very little details or compute an elaborate 3d model with internal rooms

Uses the DOE-2 simulation engine

The product can provide estimates and allow exploration of design alternatives

Green Building Studio: How it Works

Green Building Studio uses the DOE-2 simulation engine

DOE-2 is a widely used an accepted freeware building energy analysis program that can predict the energy use and cost for all types of buildings. (http://doe2.com/DOE2/index.html)

DOE-2 is a command line or batch-oriented program so users are welcome to either learn it (with a learning curve of 6-12 months), or opt for applications which ease the learning curve.

DOE-2 was developed by James J. Hirsch & Associates (JJH) in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and funded mostly from the United States Department of Energy (USDOE).

Effective 30 September 2009, DOE-2.2 is Qualified Software (DOE-2.2-047d) for Calculating Commercial Building Tax Deductions first enacted under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and later extended by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The requirements for software to be qualified for use in these deductions were first covered by IRS Notice 2006-52 and then amplified by IRS IRB 2008-14 and again clarified by IRS IRB 2012-17 with further guidelines provided by DOE. (http://doe2.com/)

http://doe2.com/DOE2/index.html

Green Building Studio

Conceptual Conceptual models can be created

by using satellite imagery

Room dimensions are estimated based on offset from exterior walls

Glazing information is set as a percentage of wall.

Detailed Detailed Revit models can be used

to perform closer analysis

Room dimensions are exact and this data is used by GBS

Glazing information is directly translated from the rough opening on walls

Green Building Studio: What is Rapid Energy Modeling?

Rapid Energy Modeling is a method to gather a buildings energy profile

Quick 3D models are implemented using applications such as Autodesk Infraworks, Revit, or Vasari to create an instant model

This basic information will help us to assess a buildings likely energy consumption

Green Building Studio: Sample Workflow Rapid Energy Modeling (REM)

Begin with Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Vasari, Autodesk Formit, or Autodesk Infraworks

Set the project location

Import the map of the project. Sketch the building outline.

Set the building height and setup levels according to the number of floors

Define Energy Settings

Export the energy model to Green Building Studio

After the base run, Refine the model or change values within GBS and run design alternatives

Green Building Studio

Demo

Green Building Studio: Weather Station

Air temperature (Dry Bulb)

Humidity (Relative Humidity)

Dew Point

Wind Speed (Wind Roses) How should the building be rotated? Are there practical ways to improve ventilation of the structure using natural wind?

Sky Cover How cloudy will it be throughout the year? What materials could be considered for highly irradiated locations? Will photovoltaic panels efficiently deliver the needed amount of electricity during a particular season?

Irradiation (Direct Normal Radiation, Diffuse Horizontal Radiation, Global Horizontal Radiation) - Understand how much how much solar energy impacts the area of a given location.

Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) + Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI) = Global Horizontal Radiation (GHI)

Revit

Autodesk Revit is a popular software for creation of 3D buildings and construction documentation

As 3D models are created, important information is added onto the geometries. These are called parameters (Metadata).

Parameters added to geometries can be scheduled

Revit comes in 3 different application flavors. These are: Architecture, Structure, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing).

Collaboration of 3D models amongst disciplines cuts down on error and waste

Detailed 3D models are also perfect for analytical models

Revit

Advantages:

When modeling is done in 3D, 2D drawings are a byproduct. This is called bidirectional associativity.

Models are required to be drawn to exact detail. There is no throwing over the wall or fudging measurements.

The line between a drafter and engineer is blurred. The drafter has important input into the design process

Disadvantages:

Some may complain about the time it takes to learn 3D modeling

For users coming from AutoCAD, theyre giving up a lot of fine-grained control over the overall look of the drawing

Revit: No throwing over walls!

Revit

Demo

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Civil 3D is based on AutoCAD with additional geospatial tools and tools for civil design

This software is used for surveying, moving ground (grading), planning roads, waterways, developing land, create pipes, or analyze volumes

Sustainability plays a very important part in todays civil engineering projects.

Good tools help execute good decisions.

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Demo

Simulation CFD

Autodesk Simulation CFD is computational fluid dynamics and thermal simulation software

Simulations using detailed 3D models allows users to revise designs to optimize fluid or thermal characteristics.

Simulation CFD would normally fall in the Investment Grade Energy Audit category but it can be scaled down to cost less.

Methods:

Benchmarking ASHRAE Level 1

Rapid Energy Modeling

ASHRAE Level 2

Traditional Energy Modeling

Investment Grade Energy Audit

Simulation CFD

Simulation CFD

Demo

Come by our booth!

Autodesk Solutions for Energy AuditingA little introWhat will we be covering today?So You Want to Reduce Energy WasteSo You Want to Reduce Energy WasteSo You Want to Reduce Energy WasteSo You Want to Reduce Energy WasteSo You Want to Reduce Energy WasteSo You Want to Reduce Energy WasteEnergy Use Measurement: Summary of ApproachesWhy Use Rapid Energy Modeling?Autodesk InfraworksInfraworksInfraworksGreen Building StudioGreen Building Studio: How it WorksGreen Building StudioGreen Building Studio: What is Rapid Energy Modeling?Green Building Studio: Sample Workflow Rapid Energy Modeling (REM)Green Building StudioSlide Number 21Green Building Studio: Weather StationRevitRevitRevit: No throwing over walls!RevitAutoCAD Civil 3DAutoCAD Civil 3DSimulation CFDSimulation CFDSimulation CFDCome by our booth!