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Energy use tool EcoMetrics provides data across building types
June 10, 2015 - A new tool for data analysis from energy simulation models across a company’s various building types was unveiled recently at the Canada Green Building Council’s conference in Vancouver.
June 10, 2015 By Renée Francoeur
This graph represents the energy use efficiency of 42 projects expressed as kilowatt use per square metre of space per year and breaks down the program use of energy needs for each building. Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects says it is taking a role in the development of this “sustainable design databank” focused on energy-use reduction, called EcoMetrics.
“What began as a response to The 2030 Challenge for energy efficiency in buildings evolved into a powerful, interactive visual database containing energy simulation models for more than 40 of our LEED certified projects and other projects with energy simulation models,” said Birgit Siber, principal at Diamond Schmitt. “This tool comes from the recognition that energy use in the building sector is the most difficult and pressing sustainable design challenge.”
According to the firm, the EcoMetrics database considers determinants of energy use efficiency, including location, building type, passive initiatives (orientation, massing, thermal performance) and active systems (mechanical and electrical systems) and distills the data into one simple formula: kWhr/m2/year (kilowatt use per square metre of space per year). It also highlights design factors impacting efficiency such as volume-to-floor area efficiency; ratio of glazing to wall; occupancy loads and specific program requirements, including ventilation rates, and HVAC system efficiency.
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