How to buy a heat pump system? SEON answers the questions you need to know – and gives you the questions you need to ask. For those living in the New England and Northeast region. (Special thanks to Efficiency Vermont)
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RESFEN can help consumers and builders pick the most energy-efficient and cost-effective window for a given application, whether it is a new home, an addition, or a window replacement. It calculates heating and cooling energy use and associated costs as well as peak heating and cooling demand for specific window products. Users define a specific “scenario” by specifying house type (single-story or two-story), geographic location, orientation, electricity and gas cost, and building configuration details (such as wall, floor, and HVAC system type). Users also specify size, shading, and thermal properties of the window they wish to investigate. The thermal properties that RESFEN requires are: U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and air leakage rate. RESFEN calculates the energy and cost implications of the window compared to an insulated wall. The relative energy and cost impacts of two different windows can be compared.
The Passive House Institute’s (PHI’s) designPH software allows one to use SketchUp to create a model for preliminary suitability studies – to tweak the design’s energy balance and physical form in the same interface.
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THERM is a state-of-the-art computer program developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) for use by building component manufacturers, engineers, educators, students, architects, and others interested in heat transfer. Using THERM, you can model two-dimensional heat-transfer effects in building components such as windows, walls, foundations, roofs, and doors; appliances; and other products where thermal bridges are of concern. THERM’s heat-transfer analysis allows you to evaluate a product’s energy efficiency and local temperature patterns, which may relate directly to problems with condensation, moisture damage, and structural integrity.
The Building Technology and Urban Systems (BTUS) Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has created the Rosenfeld Building Science Fellowship to draw outstanding scientists and engineers who have the potential and the desire to contribute to the betterment of society through fundamental scientific and technological advances in the field of building technology research. Rosenfeld Building Science Fellowship participants will carry out innovative research in the area of building technology, publish impactful papers in peer-reviewed journals, present seminars at ETA and attend major conferences. Additional expectations include a final report at program conclusion to include: a brief summary of the research conducted and copies of publications resulting from the research.
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The Optics computer program is designed for work with optical data for glass and glazing layers. Integration with the International Glazing Database (IGDB) makes it easy to build stacks of multiple glass layers and calculate the resulting optical properties. The program works transmittance and reflectance as a function of wavelength. This allows for calculation of integrated values, such as visible transmittance, according to a range of standards.
BETTER is software toolkit that enables building operators to quickly, easily identify the most cost-saving energy efficiency measures in buildings and portfolios using readily available building and energy data. With minimal data entry, BETTER benchmarks a building’s or portfolio’s energy use against peers; quantifies energy, cost, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential; and recommends energy efficiency measures (technological and operational) for individual buildings or portfolios, targeting specific energy savings levels. The toolkit consists of a web application, application programming interface (API), and analytical engine source code.
A software environment that allows users to couple different simulation programs for co-simulation, and to couple simulation programs with actual hardware. For example, the BCVTB allows to simulate a building in EnergyPlus and the HVAC and control system in Modelica, while exchanging data between the software as they simulate.
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Read Before You Ventilate Introduction: Proper ventilation is essential for maintaining a healthy and comfortable home environment. Whether you’re a new homeowner or considering upgrading your ventilation system, there are several important factors to consider before making any decisions. In this article, we will guide you through key considerations that can help you make informed
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Vermont is renowned for its charming older homes, barns, and churches that encapsulate the quintessential Vermont dream. Building the Vermont Dream means embracing sustainable practices today, reminiscent of those older homes that reflect the wisdom of our great-great grandparents. Our ancestors were deeply committed to sustainable building, utilizing natural materials, incorporating passive solar design, and employing other techniques to create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly homes. However, over time, we deviated from these practices in pursuit of convenience and cost-effectiveness. To restore Vermont’s legacy of sustainable building and create a future that honors our past, we must understand why we strayed and take action. By educating ourselves and promoting sustainable building, we can revive our connection to heritage, reinstate sustainable practices, and forge a path towards a greener future for Vermont.
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