Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
(OP)
I'm doing a 14' x 38' addition to an existing residence and the client wants me to do energy calculations. Does anyone have any reference material on this? I'm not sure where to start as I've never done energy calcs before, so any info on this would be greatly appreciated.






RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
For example can you provide geo techinical report if client asks?
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
I would say the sooner the better if you are looking to get out. Be honest with the client and tell them the job wasn't quite what you thought it was and you are a little over your head.
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
For that job size, and if you want to learn, you can do it. I do not want to get into legal lingo here cause I do not want to.
The Department of Energy has two versions of a free software called Rescheck, you can google it. An option for Commercial Structures is called Comcheck. You can download it for free at the DOE's website. Its use is very intuitive so you as an engineer should have no problem in figuring it out.
I have learned to do many things that many told me not to try, and feel comfortable now doing them as long as the public safety and welfare are not in jeopardy. Just be conservative.Sometimes is useful to be practical.Use your judgement.
Make sure that you check the partition types, insulation values for wall ceiling and floor accordingly and the heat loss and gain assumptions that make sense to the are where the house is located.
By the way, you will see that the DOE assumes that even contractors can run this software and they accept the output reports prepared by them as long as the assumptions are logical and done with diligence.
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
I've downloaded ResCheck, and it is very easy to use. I had no problem figuring it out. It took me about 30 minutes to input all my values. The only question I have left regarding the energy calcs is regarding doors and windows. I do not know what type of windows/door the owner will be purchasing (neither does he yet), so I'm not sure what U-value I should be using. Any thoughts on a conservative number?
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
RE: Energy Calculation For Residential Addition
Also worthy of note, in Florida you are not required to have A/C, only have to show that the place can be heated adequately. That is something many jurisdictions to not know or want you to know. "why?" you ask, well, they want that permit fee.
You do not have to be a mechanical engineer to fill out the energy forms in Florida. I usually get the home owner to sign the forms anyway.