Abstract

Project: Technology Portal for Energy Efficient Buildings

Date: August 2, 2012

Author: Larry Hermanson

Mentor: Daniel Studer

Cohort: Annie Mroz

Lab site: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Buildings account for 71% of the electricity demand and 39% of the primary energy consumption in the United States. The Commercial Buildings Group at NREL provides builders, designers and building owners accurate information to significantly improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. The Technology Portal for Energy Efficient Buildings will increase the accessibility of standardized and credible energy performance data for all building systems, thereby allowing building owners to better evaluate energy efficient design options and manufacturers to showcase their technology. We developed data entry forms (DEFs) for Packaged Roof Top HVAC Units and Heating Boilers for use in the Technology Portal. The DEFs define all of the pertinent performance data needed to evaluate performance in a broad range of applications. The DEF process involves a study of industry standards, performance codes, standard testing procedures, manufacturer literature, and research papers to find the relevant parameters needed to define performance. The DEF defines the standard units and test methods for each performance category. Each DEF is peer reviewed by industry experts. The DEFs must apply to multiple building use patterns in any climate zone. DEFs must not be biased toward a certain manufacturer or technology and must also allow flexibility for new innovation. NREL staff and contractors are concurrently working on web design, database development and additional DEFs for the Technology Portal. Initial release is scheduled for February 2013.

Disciplines

Architectural Engineering | Electrical and Electronics | Electro-Mechanical Systems

Mentor

Daniel Studer

Lab site

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Funding Acknowledgement

This material is based upon work supported by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0952013 and Grant No. 0833353. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation or the National Science Foundation. This project has also been made possible with support of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The STAR program is administered by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) on behalf of the California State University (CSU).

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/103

 

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