Brainstorm of Ideas

I primarily want to focus on tools associated with energy efficiency and building performance. Below is the start of a brainstorm of a few ideas associated with the different types of tools.

1. Configurator Ideas
1. Given an overall window wall ratio on a facade,
2. Design Assist Ideas
1. Window Effective R-value calculator
1. calculates R-value of a window assembly based on given inputs and mullion layout.
2. Cost Estimator by Assembly
1. For a given mass form, floor to floor height, this program computes a conceptual total cost for the facade, roof, structure, MEP, and interiors (based on the various measurements obtained from the mass).
3. Embodied Carbon Estimator
1. Similar to cost estimator, but takes measurements from a mass form (mass floors, surface area, roof area, etc.) and calculates embodied carbon based on the materials chosen (from a list of items).
2. Similar to the STV tool used in PBL, but housed within Dynamo to do the calculation for you (at a conceptual stage).
3. This might be too much work for two weeks..
3. Generative Design
1. Daylight Optimization
1. Given an overall window to wall ratio on a facade, provide the optimized location of windows to maximize daylight.

Window Effective R-value

High efficiency windows are extremely important to have a high performance, low energy building. Often times, the rated R-values of glass can often times be undermined (lowered) when the design includes a lot of mullions and frames that are normally metal. These breaks in the glass with highly conductive materials make windows less efficient. The reality is, any given window has an effective R-value that captures the true effect of how the window performs thermally.

Intended users

• Architects designing energy efficient facades
• Facilities Managers switching out windows for retrofit.
• Anyone trying to understand how the aesthetics of different mullion layouts and/or frames would affect their specific R-value for the window.

Need you’re trying to provide a solution or support for

• Window design often times has both efficiency concerns as well as aesthetic (mullions can lead to certain aesthetics as well as for structural).
• This tool will calculate the effective R-value for a window type and size to help designers (architects) or facilities managers to choose energy efficient designs for their buildings.

Inputs

• Length and Width of Window Area (yielding total square footage)
• Frame Or Mullion Information
• Type (aluminum, vinyl, wood, fiberglass etc.)
• Thickness (in)
• R-values
• Rated R-value of glass type (from manufacturer)
• Edge of Glass R-value (if obtained. If not it can be a slider assumption)
• Frame R-value (from manufacturer)
• Mullion array and/or vertical and horizontal spacing
• Array - 2x2 glass pane array = 1 x 1 mullion
• Spacing

Underlying logic of the model you’ll implement

1. Take in total Window area and panelize it based on the mullion array.
2. Add mullions onto the glass
3. Calculate total percentages (in relation to total Area of glass)
1. Center of Glass Area %
2. Edge of Glass Area % (noted as area within 2 1/2” of any frame or through mullion).
3. Frame or Mullion Area %
4. Perform basic calculation of effective R-value based on the equation below calculation (from my CEE 176A homework).
1. This will use R-values for COG, EOG, and Frame shown below as well. Will be a range but in the info section this will give Typical Values to use.
2. This would have to assume a typical range of edge of glass R-value (likely between 1 and 3 depending on the glass). This can be a baked in assumption.

5. Output Effective R-value and visualization (either in Dynamo or Revit components).

Outputs

• Effective R-value of the window
• Visual of what the window would look like (mullion spacing/size) - either Dynamo Geometry or Revit Component.