Computer-implemented system and method for modeling building heating energy consumption
First Claim
1. A method for modeling periodic building heating energy consumption with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining total thermal conductivity of a building with an HVAC system;
evaluating thermal conductivity of a building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating gains over a time period for a heating season; and
determining fuel consumption as a function of the total thermal conductivity less the balance point thermal conductivity, the average indoor temperature less the average outdoor temperature and duration of the time period, over the HVAC system'"'"'s efficiency; and
modeling a change in the thermal conductivity associated with replacing a material of a portion of an envelope of the building with a further material using an R-value of the material and an R-value of the further material; and
calculating a value of energy savings associated with the replacement using the determined fuel consumption and the changed thermal conductivity,wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer and wherein the replacement is performed based on the value of the energy savings.
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Abstract
A computer-implemented system and method to evaluate building heating fuel consumption is described. The evaluation can be used for quantifying personalized electric and fuel bill savings. Such savings may be associated with investment decisions relating to building envelope improvements; HVAC equipment improvements; delivery system efficiency improvements; and fuel switching. The results can also be used for assessing the cost/benefit of behavioral changes, such as changing thermostat temperature settings. Similarly, the results can be used for optimizing an HVAC control system algorithm based on current and forecasted outdoor temperature and on current and forecasted solar irradiance to satisfy consumer preferences in a least cost manner. Finally, the results can be used to correctly size a photovoltaic (PV) system to satisfy needs prior to investments by anticipating existing energy usage and the associated change in usage based on planned investments.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for modeling periodic building heating energy consumption with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining total thermal conductivity of a building with an HVAC system; evaluating thermal conductivity of a building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating gains over a time period for a heating season; and determining fuel consumption as a function of the total thermal conductivity less the balance point thermal conductivity, the average indoor temperature less the average outdoor temperature and duration of the time period, over the HVAC system'"'"'s efficiency; and modeling a change in the thermal conductivity associated with replacing a material of a portion of an envelope of the building with a further material using an R-value of the material and an R-value of the further material; and calculating a value of energy savings associated with the replacement using the determined fuel consumption and the changed thermal conductivity, wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer and wherein the replacement is performed based on the value of the energy savings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for determining heating energy consumption of a building over a fixed time period with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining total thermal conductivity of a building and an efficiency for an HVAC system that provides the heating to the building; identifying a temperature difference between an average temperature outside and an average temperature inside the building over a time period for a heating season; identifying internal heating gains within the building over the time period; finding balance point thermal conductivity as a function of the internal heating gains over the temperature difference and duration of the time period; and determining fuel consumption for heating over the time period as a function of the difference between the total thermal conductivity and the balance point thermal conductivity, the temperature difference and the duration of the time period, over the efficiency of the HVAC system, modeling a change in the thermal conductivity associated with replacing a material of a portion of an envelope of the building with a further material using an R-value of the material and an R-value of the further material; and calculating a value of energy savings associated with the replacement using the determined fuel consumption and the changed thermal conductivity, wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer and wherein the replacement is performed based on the value of the energy savings. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification