cove.tool has pre-created templates for 8 building types but also allows advanced users to create custom template that fits the project's specific conditions. These custom templates allow very specific project types to be setup and used multiple times.
First task is selecting an existing building type template. The practical knowledge of knowing one’s building use type is important to recognize the particularities of type specific energy consumption and expenditure. The key parameters which impacts the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) include Mechanical Ventilation Supply Air Flow Rate, Lighting Power Density (LPD), Equipment Power Density (EPD), Occupancy Schedule, HVAC System Type, Envelope Properties, Domestic Hot Water Demand, Air Changes per Hour (ACH), etc. This article discusses the fundamentally different engineering input values to create Warehouse Template.
Step 1:
Set the ‘Project Name’ as intended building use template and select the ‘Building Type’ that closely resembles to the intended use. Also, check the box below the Energy Code to make the project a template for firmwide use (highlighted in red in the image below). Office is a good starting point for a warehouse as the occupancy schedule, LPD and appliance use is similar. The energy code should match your locations default.
Learning more about each existing system and how they are identified/ differentiated is key to creating a new template. After selecting a building type, complete your project and geometry pages. The next key step occurs in the baseline energy tab.
Step 2:
Modify the Building Type name in 'Baseline Energy' page so that it'll be easier to understand that the project has been converted to custom template.
Step 3:
Adjust the Mechanical Ventilation Supply Air Flow Rate (CFM/SF) accordingly. The supply air flow rate for Warehouse is based on ASHRAE 62.1 Table 6.2.2.1 which states the people outdoor air rate is 10 CFM/person and area outdoor air rate is 0.06 CFM/SF.
Step 4:
Adjust the Lighting Power Density according to the use type. The Lighting Power Density (LPD) maximum allowable value (0.48 W/ft2) is taken from ASHRAE 90.1 version 2016 for Warehouse.
Step 5:
Adjust the Equipment Power Density (EPD) according to the use type. The Equipment Power Density (EPD) acceptable value (0.10 W/ft2) is taken from ASHRAE 90.1 User’s Manual Version 2013 for Warehouse.
Step 6:
Edit the 2030 building type to match with the modeled building and hit 'recalculate' to get accurate 2030 baseline EUI value.
Step 7:
Adjust other engineering inputs such as occupancy schedules, occupant density, heating/cooling set-points etc. according to the building type and hit 'recalculate' to include that in analysis. For this example, the remaining engineering inputs are kept identical for Warehouse and Office. These inputs should be reviewed by a professional engineer to ensure they match the project design intents.
The created template can be used by other team member by using the "copy" button.
Also, when the Step 2 is followed, cove.tool will automatically update all name tags in the report for the users.
Note, these custom template inputs are suggestions for an unrefrigerated warehouse type use only. These should not be used for any other type of building and should always be checked by a projects mechanical engineer.
How to add additional cold storage loads?
Cold storage is typically another type of plug load that doesn't contribute to a space's internal gains. Modeling the total wattage (W) with 'Exterior Lighting Power' input is a way to add cold storage consumption to the EUI. This will appear in the 'Lighting' column but won't contribute to the heating and cooling of the space as intended.
Happy modeling!
Find a list of all custom building-type articles here.