Submitted For
Module 9 - Points to Ponder
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?
- No, as the real world can be very different than how the analysis simplifies it to be. All the values input into the analysis are estimated values to give an approximate output. In addition, the amount of energy used day-to-day will vary. One day the completed building could match the analysis, then maybe the next day the weather is different or someone opens all of the windows in the building and the performance is much lower than the prediction. There are many variables at hand, but the analysis provides an average value that can be used.
When choosing settings for each of the building performance factors, should you always choose the setting that gives the absolute lowest predicted energy use?
- You shouldn’t necessarily always choose the setting to give the lowest energy use as that is not always practical for the real-world. Some parts of a building might need more lighting or more ventilation than others and this would require using more energy. Comfort level for the building should be considered when choosing the analysis settings. If the lowest energy settings are all chosen, then the final completed building is most likely going to have very different performance results than the analysis predicted.
How can model-based quantity takeoff improve the design process?
- Model-based quantity takeoff makes estimating the costs very quick and accurately. Designers do not have to go through and hand calculate the weight of steel used or the cubic yards of concrete needed. Usually, this would be a laborious, multi-day task, but having a Revit model with all the necessary details in it allow the process to be done in minutes. Designers can then use these calculated values to optimize their design to reduce the amount of a material needed, or substitute materials to cut on costs. This would allow someone to iterate designs and make finding the most economical design a lot faster and simpler.