Exercise 3.4.1: Estimating a Demand Baseline and Improving Efficiency

In this exercise, students will learn how to:

Use Green Building Studio to estimate annual electrical use based on building size and type.
Evaluate the electrical end use impact of specifying high-efficiency lighting fixtures, controls, and HVAC systems.
Use design alternatives to compare strategies for reducing electrical use.
Determine the LEED points available for different levels of power use reduction..

Figure 3.4.1 - Exploring annual electric and fuel use estimates in Green Building Studio

Download Unit3_Lesson4_Exercise1_Start.zip: Imperial or Metric
Revit Architecture 2011, Autodesk Green Building Studio

Create design alternatives in Green Building Studio to explore the effects of different strategies for reducing electric use.
Compare the potential reduction available through specifying different lighting power densities.
Explore the potential reduction available through different lighting controls.Investigate the potential reduction achievable using different HVAC systems choices.

Exercise 3.4.2: Offsetting Power Use Through Net-Zero Measures

In this exercise, students will learn how to:

Evaluate the photovoltaic potential of building surfaces by considering the solar energy available at the project location as well as the orientation and tilt of each of the surfaces.
Determine which surfaces of a building are worthwhile candidates for photovoltaic panels by considering the payback period required to offset the cost of installing the panels.
Calculate the LEED points available by using photovoltaic panels to generate power on-site and reduce reliance on utilities.

Figure 3.4.2 - Example of a photovoltaic potential

Download Unit3_Lesson4_Exercise2_Start.zip: Imperial or Metric
Revit Architecture 2011, Autodesk Green Building Studio

Using the data presented in Figure 3.4.3 and electrical end-use computed in Green Building Studio, determine the amount of baseline energy that must be obtained from renewable sources (such as photovoltaic generation) to obtain 4 LEED points.
Use the photovoltaic analysis tools in Green Building Studio to explore the effect of changing the desired payback period on the number of surfaces and total area recommended for photovoltaic panels.
Determine the length of the payback period that will be required to recover the cost of installing the area of photovoltaic panels required to provide enough on-site renewable energy to earn 4 LEED points.
Determine the length of the payback required to recover the cost of installing enough photovoltaic panels to earn 7 LEED points.
Create a new run in Green Building Studio to explore how these answers change if the project is located in Phoenix, Arizona (a very sunny climate), rather than Detroit, Michigan..

Figure 3.4.3 - LEED points for providing on-site renewable energy