Building Energy Simulation Portland State University

ME 422/522 Spring 2009

SYLLABUS – ME 422/522

Times: Monday and Wednesday noon - 1:50pm

Location: Engineering Building room 420 (CAE Lab)
Textbook: None – class notes, handouts, and internet resources
References:
 Energy Simulation in Building Design, by J. Clarke
 Computerized Building Energy Simulation Handbook, by Waltz and Waltz
 Green Building Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource-
Efficient Homes, by Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

Instructor: David J. Sailor, EB room 402J

E-mail: sailor@cecs.pdx.edu
URL: www.cecs.pdx.edu/~sailor (see link on this page to ME422)

Office Hours: Friday 10:30-11:30am (and by appointment)

Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
(a) Apply energy and mass conservation principles in the analysis
of energy performance of buildings;
(b) Conduct design day and annual analysis of energy use in
residential and commercial buildings;
(c) Develop detailed building energy simulations using state-of-the-
art building energy simulation software packages;
(d) Propose and evaluate strategies for improving the energy
performance of buildings.
Prerequisites: ME 323 (heat transfer), ME 421/521(HVAC – useful but not required)
Assignments: Unless otherwise stated all assignments are due at the beginning of
class with late penalties of 10% for assignments turned in on due date
during/after class. If the assignment is turned in late, but prior to the
start of the next class meeting a 25% late penalty will apply. Most
homework assignments will include a base assignment for all students
and an additional part to be completed by ME 522 students. Final
projects are done in small groups (~ 2 students) for ME422 students
and individually for ME 522 students.
Grades:
Homework assignments 30%
Final Project progress reports 10%
Final Project oral presentation 25%
Final Project written reports 35%
 Building Energy Simulation Portland State University
ME 422/522 Spring 2009

Course Schedule*
Lectures MONDAY TOPICS WEDNESDAY TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS/NOTES
Mar 30, Course overview. Environmental loads on Internal loads in buildings – plug loads, lighting, ---
Apr. 1 buildings (radiation, convection, people, equipment. Schedules.
conduction/storage, infiltration) – role of Data resources for building sector energy use.
windows and building orientation. Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
Apr. 6, 8 Air conditioning, heating, and ventilation eQuest’s interface, and basics of Schematic HW 1 – Bldg. loads (due
needs in buildings – intro to mechanical Design Wizard – bldg. footprint shape, zoning, Wed. Apr. 8)
equipment. Conceptual design of a envelope construction, exterior doors and windows,
building energy model. performing sims, and basic output.
Apr. 13, 15 NO LECTURE TODAY – eQuest – Design Development Wizard. Defining HW 2 – eQuest #1 (due
Explore eQuest (Schedules and HVAC multiple shells. Importing/using CAD floorplans Wed. Apr 15)
parameters) using HW 2 as a guide.
Apr. 20, 22 eQuest –Detailed simulation output file. eQuest – Detailed edit mode HW 3 – eQuest #2 (due
Detailed edit mode. Wed. Apr 22)
April 27, 29 Site specific weather, TMY data, climate Energy codes & standards: ASHRAE 90.1 – HW 4 – eQuest #3 (due
variability/change. Modifying TMY data. compliance paths, Appendix G, CA Title 24 Wed Apr. 29)
May 4, 6 More energy codes and standards – Final Projects – introduction & assignment HW 5 – Energy Codes (due
Oregon Energy Code, BETC credits Wed. May 6)
May 11, 13 USGBC & LEED Certified Buildings, An introduction to energy modeling using ---
energy modeling for LEED, Living EnergyPlus
Building Challenge
May 18, 20 More on EnergyPlus Final Project oral progress reports (8-10 HW 6 – EnergyPlus and
minutes each) Oral progress reports due
Wed. May 20.
May 25, 27 Memorial Day Holiday – NO LECTURE NO LECTURE TODAY – lab open for working on ---
TODAY. final projects
June 1, 3 Special topics – other building energy Final Project Presentations for ME422 (15-20 ME 422 Final oral
modeling tools minutes each) presentations -
Finals Final Project Presentations for ME 522 (20 minutes each). Written reports due for both ME 422 and ME 522 during scheduled
Week Final Exam period - refreshments provided!

* This schedule represents a nominal timeline and outline of topics to be covered in this course. As the quarter unfolds there likely will be modest changes.