Building Optimization
MTF understands there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to achieve significant energy savings. Energy demand can only be reduced through a whole systems analysis – one which evaluates how all the components of a building (including insulation, light fixtures, orientation, climate, and occupancy) work synergistically to reduce the building’s overall energy demand.
Energy Efficiency & Alternative Energy Sources
Whole-building energy modeling and parametric analysis is used to understand tradeoffs and synergies. In-house software development enables the analysis of challenging interactions such as thermal mass effects, ventilation, wind patterns, solar orientation, and various building fabrics. We use a suite of analysis simulation packages (Trace 700, Window5, IES, AGI and others) to:
- Model annual building energy use at all stages of design process;
- Develop early energy use parametrics to identify energy saving opportunities in design alternatives;
- Assist on Value Engineering issues in regards to energy efficiency;
- Identify and size appropriate alternative energy sources including photovoltaic cells, geothermal wells or a hybrid mixture of sources.
Annual Energy Use
Achieving a low-energy configuration, in terms of cooling, heating, lighting and equipment loads, is a primary metric for determining the optimal configuration. However, it cannot be the only one. There are practical limits to the constructability of energy efficiency solutions, and it is important to determine the point of diminishing returns. For example, how much benefit is derived from adding an additional inch of insulation? Therefore, energy use is considered along with the other metrics below.
Practical Cost-Effectiveness
This metric uses estimated construction costs relative to a standard baseline facility for the particular components of a modeled configuration, as well as the cost of the optimized design required to provide 100% of its energy use. The sum of these costs or cost savings is considered the cost-effectiveness for choosing a particular configuration of the building system that will result in a real impact on overall construction cost and energy use.
Occupant Comfort
Many energy efficiency measures do not show up as beneficial in a simple energy use calculation, but they could have a large impact on thermal comfort. One example is thermal mass. Though thermal mass does not significantly reduce cooling loads, it does affect interior mean radiant temperatures, and therefore occupant comfort and potentially HVAC system sizing or setpoints. This metric uses the number of degree-hours spent outside a specified comfort zone over the course of a year to measure occupant comfort.
GEOTHERMAL OPTIMIZATION
There are many possible ways to design a geothermal system, it is almost always possible to optimize a solution to operate in the most efficient manner and at the lowest possible installation cost.
Energy Efficiency Know How
Whole-building energy modeling and its dynamic impact on geothermal analysis and optimization is learned trait. Others are guessing or learning at your expense while we continue build upon our experiences and network with leaders in the industry to maintain current on the latest technology.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
There is more to the piping design than just balancing the flows and our computational fluid dynamic analysis provides the capability to ensure the circuits and headers can be readily purged, auto-balanced, and is optimized for the customers balance of cost versus energy savings.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING
We can steer you through today’s maze of sustainable design strategies, technologies, industry standards, best practices, and regulations by leveraging a wide range of modelling and analysis services. We can cover all aspects of energy consumption and its impact on and interrelationships with carbon footprint, thermal comfort, daylight, solar and other building performance metrics.
For the full impact of such an analysis service to be realised it should be undertaken right from the very earliest stages of design and then continue throughout the entire process to completion and beyond. We can work with you to incorporate this energy analysis into the entire process, advising you on when and how it should be used to harness its full low-energy, high-performance power, as well as give feedback on key iterations quickly and efficiently at the relevant level.
We use our powerful virtual environment performance modelling to provide detailed thermal simulations. Our key Advanced Simulation Services are outlined within. Feel free to contact our team for further information or to request a free no obligation quotation.
START A PROJECT WITH US
We would love the opportunity to work with you on your upcoming project. Please use our contact information to reach us via email, telephone or postal mail. We look forwarding to hearing from you and building a successful project.