Comparison of Building Loads Analysis and System Thermodynamics (BLAST) Computer Program Simulations and Measured Energy Use for Army Buildings.
Abstract
This report describes the results of study which compared actual energy use data collected for two typical Army buildings by the Army's Fixed Facilities Energy Monitoring Project with energy-use data predicted by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory's (CERL's) Building Loads Analysis and System Thermodynamics (BLAST) energy analysis computer program. It was concluded that to compare actual building energy use with energy use predicted by BLAST, accurate, concurrent hourly measurements of weather data, energy-use data, occupancy-dependent parameters, and equipment operating parameters must be obtained. However, within the data collection restraints of this study, BLAST predicted building boundary energy consumption (including both electrical and gas consumption) to within 10 to 12 percent for two typical Army buildings. BLAST also accurately predicted electrical consumption of a chiller package for the same Army buildings. It was also concluded that BLAST can be used to evaluate energy conservative design alternatives, since most of the hard-to-define effects of building occupants on building energy use are constant and therefore relatively unimportant. But when BLAST is used to predict actual energy performance, values for building geometry, materials, schedules, controls, and heating, cooling, and ventilating systems must be precise and the effects of occupants on building energy use must be carefully described. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA105162
Entities
People
- Dale Herron
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory