A process for defining prototype building models: Courthouse case study for U.S. Commercial energy

Mini Malhotra; Piljae Im; Joshua New

doi:10.3390/en12204020

A process for defining prototype building models: Courthouse case study for U.S. Commercial energy

Mini Malhotra, Piljae Im, Joshua New

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Article number	4020
Journal	Energies
Volume	12
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/en12204020
State	Published - Oct 22 2019

Funding

Funding: This work was funded by field work proposal CEBT105 under US Department of Energy Building Technology Office Activity Number BT0201000. This work was funded by field work proposal CEBT105 under US Department of Energy Building Technology Office Activity Number BT0201000. We would like to thank Amir Roth for his support and review of this project. The authors acknowledge several individuals and organizations who have provided significant help in conducting this research: Don Hardenbergh (Court Works); Michael Griebel (Research Design Solutions LLC); John Sporidis (Vanderweil Engineers); Henry Pittner, AIA (BVK Group Architects & Engineers); Bob Schwartz (HOK); Bob S. Slattery (Oak Ridge National Laboratory); Bing Liu and Mark Halverson (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory); National Center for State Courts; the US General Services Administration; and the Federal Judiciary of the United States.

Funders	Funder number
Bing Liu and Mark Halverson
John Sporidis
National Center for State Courts
US Department of Energy Building Technology
US Department of Energy Building Technology Office Activity Number	BT0201000
U.S. General Services Administration

Keywords

Building codes and standards
Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Commercial prototype building models
Courthouse building characteristics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/en12204020

Cite this

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abstract = "Buildings currently consume 36% of the world{\textquoteright}s energy and contribute nearly 40% of CO2 emissions. Many countries desire to generate virtual models of their nation{\textquoteright}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.",

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A process for defining prototype building models: Courthouse case study for U.S. Commercial energy

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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