Energy Optimization Modeling (EOM) is an effective step toward achieving many important objectives such as minimizing upfront investment costs, maximizing energy efficiency (EE), reducing carbon emissions, planning for changes in scale, and finding the appropriate balance of complementary technologies.
Consider these examples: EOM can be used to help determine a balance of various technologies used to heat, cool and ventilate a building. There might be a desire by building stakeholders to slash energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. A technology like geothermal heat pumps (aka ground source heat pumps, geoexchange, or GSHPs) might fit the bill for efficiency, but the investment cost necessary to level up with the heat load of the building may be prohibitively expensive, and also unnecessary. A good alternative may be a combination of GSHPs and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs). This combination brings investment costs down, and can make the system more energy efficient to boot.
Energy modeling also is useful for determining which system components operate, and when in the heating or cooling season. In this same example, the success of the system will depend not only what capacity of GSHPs and ASHPs are being used, but also their efficiency profiles, plus constantly changing variables such as outdoor air temperature, ground temperature, the heat load, occupancy, the time of the season.
One key to successful EOMs is good data. Much data exists on weather, solar radiation, ground temperatures, equipment efficiencies, etc. Good energy models incorporate appropriate data in advance. Energy models continue to have value over time as operational data become available which can then be used to for further optimization.
Contact CIMI Energy for more information about energy modeling for your buildings.