My custom node combined solar potential and value by floor area nodes. Additionally, this node gave values for the gross surface area, gross volume, and gross floor area separately. It allowed for the value of energy consumption per SF from the lowest to highest level.
Top 3 Recommendations:
- 300 ft, 30 degrees
- 300 ft, 60 degrees
- 300 ft, 45 degrees
My evaluation for my tower was based on how much heat could solar radiation give during the winter time and what is the percentage of that compared to how much energy is used to heat the building.
The cumulative insolation and heating load was calculated using my custom node. The heating load was calculated based on idea that the higher you go the less expensive it is to heat the building in the winter. This output gave me the heating load in kWh/ft^2 and I multiplied it by the gross surface area to get the total heating load for the building. Lastly, the two value were divided (Cumulative Insolation/ Heating Load) and it gave the percentage of heating energy met by insolation.
My recommendations were based on the highest % while also factoring in the height (e.g. construction and maintenance cost). Despite, 300:30 not being the highest percent it was the second best and required the least amount for heating energy (e.g. energy savings).