A Process for Defining Prototype Building Models: Courthouse Case Study for U.S. Commercial Energy

Journal Article · Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Energies (Basel)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/en12204020· OSTI ID:1607259

Malhotra, Mini ^[1]; Im, Piljae ^[1]; New, Joshua Ryan ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Buildings currently consume 36% of the world’s energy and contribute nearly 40% of CO₂ emissions. Many countries desire to generate virtual models of their nation’s buildings in order to coordinate research activities and inform market opportunities for a more sustainable built environment. The United States Department of Energy uses a suite of Commercial Prototype Building Models, which currently includes 16 building types and covers 80% of US commercial floorspace. Efforts are underway to expand this suite by developing prototype models for additional building types. In this paper, we outline a systematic approach to defining the building, collecting relevant information and creating a flexible model while doing so in the pragmatic context of a courthouse building. Informed by building design guides, databases, documented projects and inputs from courthouse design experts, we define a small, 69,324 ft² (6440 m²), four-courtroom, low-rise courthouse as the prototype to represent an average-size courthouse in the US. We present building characteristics relevant for energy model development and provide the rationale for their selection. These details combined with climate- and construction-vintage-specific requirements for the building envelope and systems from building standards will be used for developing the courthouse model for the Commercial Prototype Building Models suite. The comprehensive information presented will also guide model modification to capture the dynamics of smaller or larger courthouses more accurately for building or system size-specific research.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1607259
• Journal Information: Energies (Basel), Journal Name: Energies (Basel) Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 12; ISSN 1996-1073; ISSN ENERGA
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
building codes and standards
commercial prototype building models
courthouse building characteristics