Next Generation Energy Training
Report of Activities developing and deploying training designed for the next generation work force for energy efficient and high performance construction.
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
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Results for “Energy Code”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Optimizing Price-Informed Operation of a Battery Storage System in an Office Building
New prescriptive efficiency requirements amended to US model energy codes historically have been evaluated using an average, blended electricity rate, which obscures demand charges. Post 2019, new measures can be evaluated using a representative time-of-use (TOU) tariff yet more sophisticated analysis methods are needed to consider a variety of TOU tariffs and assess price-informed control. To address these needs, this study couples building prototype simulation model with varying-in-sophistication battery storage operating strategies for different electricity TOU tariffs. The analysis compares the impact of operating a battery storage system following simpler rule-of-thumb methods versus a semi-optimized priced-informed heuristic approach. The investigation demonstrates that the heuristic approach results in greater electricity cost savings and is practical to implement.
Lei, Xuechen↗
40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Humid Climate
This guide book is a resource to help builders design and construct highly energy-efficient homes, while addressing building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health, safety, and comfort. With the measures described in this guide, builders in the hot-humid climate can build homes that achieve whole house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark (the 1993 Model Energy Code) with no added overall costs for consumers.
Best Practices guides↗
Best Practices Case Study: New Tradition Homes - Landover Commons, Vancouver, WA
Case study of New Tradition Homes who saved 26% over Washington state’s energy code by moving ducts inside conditioned space, upgrading the furnace, increasing attic insulation to R-49, and improving air sealing. This added $3,600 to the initial cost or $290 in increased annual mortgage costs but saved $991 per year for an annual net cash back to the homeowner of $700.
Building America↗
Building America Top Innovations 2013 Profile – High-Performance Furnace Blowers
This Top Innovations profile describes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's work with furnace blower design that led to the creation of a standard for rating blowers, credits for the use of good blowers in Federal tax credit programs and energy codes, and consideration in current federal rulemaking procedures.
air conditioner↗
Building America Top Innovations 2012: Building Science-Based Climate Maps
This Building America Top Innovations profile describes the Building America-developed climate zone map, which serves as a consistent framework for energy-efficiency requirements in the national model energy code starting with the 2004 IECC Supplement and the ASHRAE 90.1 2004 edition. The map also provides a critical foundation for climate-specific guidance in the widely disseminated EEBA Builder Guides and Building America Best Practice Guides.
Building America↗
Sustain
Current building energy simulation technology requires excessive labor, time and expertise to create building energy models, excessive computational time for accurate simulations and difficulties with the interpretation of the results. These deficiencies can be ameliorated using modern graphical user interfaces and algorithms which take advantage of modern computer architectures and display capabilities. To prove this hypothesis, we developed an experimental test bed for building energy simulation. This novel test bed environment offers an easy-to-use interactive graphical interface, provides access to innovative simulation modules that run at accelerated computational speeds, and presents new graphics visualization methods to interpret simulation results. Our system offers the promise of dramatic ease of use in comparison with currently available building energy simulation tools. Its modular structure makes it suitable for early stage building design, as a research platform for the investigation of new simulation methods, and as a tool for teaching concepts of sustainable design. Improvements in the accuracy and execution speed of many of the simulation modules are based on the modification of advanced computer graphics rendering algorithms. Significant performance improvements are demonstrated in several computationally expensive energy simulation modules. The incorporation of these modern graphical techniques should advance the state of the art in the domain of whole building energy analysis and building performance simulation, particularly at the conceptual design stage when decisions have the greatest impact. More importantly, these better simulation tools will enable the transition from prescriptive to performative energy codes, resulting in better, more efficient designs for our future built environment.
Source record↗
Cost Assessment of Building Envelope Retrofits
About 65% of US buildings were constructed before the Department of Energy established the Building Energy Codes Program in 1992; therefore, their envelopes are likely significant contributors to heating and cooling loads. Numerous techniques to improve the thermal, airtightness, and water tightness performance of existing envelopes have been explored; however, these tend to be lengthy and disruptive because most of the material assembly occurs at the job site. Overclad panels that are fabricated offsite and include most of the envelope components are a potential mechanism to reduce construction time and minimize disturbance to building occupants. These benefits have been demonstrated by European programs such as Energiesprong and MORE-CONNECT, as well as a few case studies in the US. Nevertheless, preliminary evaluations appear to indicate that overclad panels may be too costly to be implemented in the US. This paper summarizes cost estimates, strengths and weaknesses from several envelope retrofit techniques; assesses the feasibility of overclad panels in the US; and proposes methods, such as advanced manufacturing techniques, that could decrease the cost of building envelope retrofits.
Salonvaara, Mikael↗
Lighting: Development, Adoption, and Compliance Guide
The guide provides information for anyone dealing with a lighting energy code or standard. It provides background and development information to help readers understand the basis for requirements and their intent. The guide also provides detailed explanations of the major types of requirements such that users can more effectively design to meet compliance while applying the most flexibility possible.
Luminaires, IECC, code compliance, high-intensity ↗
Medical Center Parking Structure: Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking Campaign
This case study describes how JBG Companies achieved almost 50% energy savings compared to energy code by using a combination of high efficiency LEDs coupled with lighting controls in its parking structure at the National Cancer Institute in Shady Grove, Maryland.
Lighting, Parking, LED, Lighting Control Systems, ↗
Automatic Segmentation of Building Envelope Point Cloud Data Using Machine Learning
About 50% of buildings in the US were constructed before energy codes were introduced. Modular overclad panel retrofits, in which a new envelope is constructed over the existing building, are a promising solution given that it minimizes occupant disruption and shortens construction time at the jobsite. Current state-of-the-art retrofit panel layout and dimensioning consists of three steps: 1) 3D point cloud data generation of the building envelope using commonly available surveying equipment, 2) manual segmentation of 3D point cloud data by a trained professional to identify and dimension window openings, door openings, and other architectural features, and 3) modular panel layout optimization and dimensioning by an architect or engineer. Among these steps, the second one remains the most difficult and costly because it is very labor-intensive. We propose a methodology to automatically label 3D point cloud data to reduce the time and expense spent in manual segmentation. Machine learning methods were employed to classify the point cloud data into distinct groups, each of which corresponds to different features of the building envelope. After classification, a segmentation algorithm was developed to perform boundary detection and separate the components of the façade. Finally, the algorithm returns the relative positions and dimensions of the features in the building envelope. The measurements obtained with the proposed automated method were compared against the actual dimensions to determine the overall algorithm accuracy. The proposed algorithm can then be used to reduce manual efforts for 3D point cloud labeling before modular panel layout optimization is performed.
Maldonado Puente, Bryan↗
Data Acquisition System Selection and Calibration of Resistive Moisture Content Measurements for Large-Scale Field Studies in Cold Climate Residential Building Envelope Performance
The residential building stock built before the energy codes were enforced has several significant inefficiency problems in terms of insulation and air leakage. To decrease these inefficiencies, building retrofits are necessary. However, if the envelope is not appropriately designed, excessive accumulation of moisture content and thus mold formation and decay inside the envelope layers can be a vital problem. This risk becomes higher, especially in extreme climate conditions such as cold winters and hot and humid summers as in some northern regions of the U.S. Field studies are essential to test the long-term hygrothermal performance of building envelopes. Although in-situ temperature, RH, and heat flux measurements are straightforward, moisture content measurements are cumbersome. Mainly, because of the heterogeneous nature of the wood materials, deviations and nonuniformities within the materials are unavoidable. Resistance measurements are one of the oldest methods used to measure the moisture content of wood and other building materials. In large-scale studies, it is commonly preferred to use multi-purpose data acquisition systems (DAQ) and custom-made or prefabricated moisture pins to measure the electrical resistance (and thus moisture content) of critical building materials. These multi-purpose DAQ systems generally provide lower costs and offer more flexibility. However, these systems require calibration and fine-tuning to achieve accurate moisture content measurements. A large-scale, two-year-long field study was conducted in northern Minnesota to monitor the hygrothermal performance of residential retrofit wall systems in cold climates. Two base case walls and sixteen different wall treatments were tested. Moisture contents were measured at various layers in each wall treatment using 85 sets of moisture pins. This paper focuses on the overall approach, fabrication, and calibration methodology for the combination of custom-made moisture pins and a multi-purpose DAQ. The aim is to directly use the low-excitation multi-purpose DAQ without any extra voltage regulator. A half-bridge circuit is used to measure wood resistance with 4V excitation voltage and 100 kΩ and 500 kΩ reference resistors. The system is calibrated for four different materials: Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, western red cedar, and oriented strand board (OSB). Calibration experiments were done under controlled conditions in 50% and 65% RH test chambers. Resistance-based moisture content calibration curves are obtained for each species. Results show that higher reference resistors provided better calibration curves for lower excitation voltages.
Desjarlais, Andre Omer↗
Advancing Mass Timber Buildings: Novel Methods Improve Thermal Assessment and Material Use
For nearly a century, thermal demand calculations for buildings have relied on simplified models developed to match the technical constraints of their era. The first standards, introduced in Germany and Austria in 1929, established climate zones and material conductivity coefficients that, with only incremental updates, still underpin many current assessments. Yet, methods such as Hot box testing, originally designed for lightweight insulation, continue to be applied for mass timber buildings, overlooking thermodynamic characteristics confer real-world advantages. Recent research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory incorporates updated methodologies, aligned with ASHRAE Standard 55 (ASHRAE, 2023) accounting for factors such as thermal inertia, inner surface temperatures, emissivity, solar gains, and dynamic outdoor conditions. These factors better reflect observed heating and cooling loads and highlight opportunities for efficient use of materials in mass timber construction. This work provides a framework for designing comfortable, resilient, and resource-efficient buildings while aligning with performance expectations in energy codes.
Pickett, Robert [International Mass Timber Allianc↗
An implicit particle code with exact energy and charge conservation for studies of dense plasmas in axisymmetric geometries
A collisional particle code based on implicit energy- and charge-conserving methods in axisymmetric geometries is presented. A new particle pusher for axisymmetric systems is introduced that is compatible with exact energy and charge conservation and yields improved accuracy compared to other methods. How to appropriately treat all aspects of the algorithm near the r = 0 axis of symmetry is described in detail. Here, the axisymmetric model is verified by simulating the free expansion of a plasma sphere in 2D cylindrical and 1D spherical geometries. The algorithm's ability to study the dynamic compression of a dense plasma is illustrated by simulating the dynamic Z-pinch in 1D cylindrical geometry.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Energy Efficiency Pilot Projects in Jaipur: Testing the Energy Conservation Building Code
The Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur, India is constructing two new buildings on its campus that allow it to test implementation of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which Rajasthan made mandatory in 2011. PNNL has been working with MNIT to document progress on ECBC implementation in these buildings.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Preliminary Energy Costs and Savings Estimates: 2018 IECC Residential Requirements
This report provides preliminary estimates of the incremental costs and savings associated with the residential provisions of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The analysis is provided to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help quantify the costs and savings impacts of the latest published edition of the IECC, the 2018 IECC. The resulting information aids in understanding the net costs and economic impacts associated with updated energy codes, which is typically of interest to adopting states and localities.
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A Vlasov-Fokker-Planck code for high energy density physics
OSHUN is a parallel relativistic 2D3P Vlasov-Fokker-Planck code, developed primarily to study electron transport and instabilities pertaining to laser-produced-including laser-fusion-plasmas. It incorporates a spherical harmonic expansion of the electron distribution function, where the number of terms is an input parameter that determines the angular resolution in momentum-space. The algorithm employs the full 3D electromagnetic fields and a rigorous linearized Fokker-Planck collision operator. The numerical scheme conserves energy and number density. This enables simulations for plasmas with temperatures from MeV down to a few eV and densities from less than critical to more than solid. Kinetic phenomena as well as electron transport physics can be recovered accurately and efficiently.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Recommendations on Implementing the Energy Conservation Building Code in Visakhapatnam, AP, India
Visakhapatnam can play an important role in improving energy efficiency in its buildings by implementing ECBC. This document seeks to capture stakeholder recommendations on a road map for implementation, which can help all market players plan for implementation. Visakhapatnam also has an opportunity to serve as a role model for other Smart Cities and cities in general in India. The road map and steps that VUDA adopts to implement ECBC can provide helpful examples to these other cities.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗