Module 9 - Points to Ponder

Submitted For
Module 9 - Points to Ponder
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Please share your comments on 3 of the following Points to Ponder questions. (Choose 3 of the questions below.)

Can you guarantee that the completed building will match the performance predicted by the analysis in its day-to-day operations?

  • You cannot guarantee that the building will match the performance predicted by the analysis to a day to day operations since the recommendations that insight gives are heavily averaged and day to day operations are heavily impacted by daily weather conditions for any given area (amount of solar gain on the building, temperature swings, humidity levels). Even with complex energy models beyond insight, this type of prediction is extremely difficult for such a large building. That said, I believe the value of Insight and tools like this is the ability to quickly see what the important design decisions would be to impact overall annual energy usage, and then follow those to deliver an efficient, low energy intensity building.

When choosing settings for each of the building performance factors, should you always choose the setting that gives the absolute lowest predicted energy use?

I think there are a lot of factors that come into play when choosing building performance factors and energy efficiency. For example, the window to wall ratio - the most efficient building for this factor is to decrease the amount of windows to a minimum and have a high R-value wall assembly in lieu of the less efficient glass. This is a large trade off to make for aesthetics and overall well-being for occupants and connection to the outdoors. So there are some decisions that need to have those types of trade-off and cost/benefit analyses to determine where the nexus between energy efficiency, wellbeing, and aesthetics to deliver a high performing, but useful and enjoyable space.

How can model-based quantity takeoff improve the design process?

Having early and often cost feedback for designs ultimately allows for designers to meet the budgets that their clients have set and ensure that the project moves forward in the original capacity. Model-based takeoff matched with accurate high level cost data for the local market can be a powerful tool if used correctly since it will keep a tab on where the design is trending, and be a tool for the entire team to understand how design decisions affect cost without waiting until there is a complete drawing set for a contractor to price. Being able to play around with designs and have a dynamic estimate set up to grab quantities and apply unit rates to them is powerful. The only thing that could be an issue is confusing quantities to be priced (how might a designer price a partition vs. a contractor price a partition - is it by LF/assembly? is it by SF of wall single sided or double sided? this can vary greatly even by separate contractors).