Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Introduction
Building energy simulation, also called building energy modeling (or energy modeling in the context of the writing), refers to the use of software to predict energy use in a building.
Characteristics of the physical-mathematical model of the usual programs
A typical energy model will have inputs for climate; building envelope; internal gains from lighting, equipment and occupants; heating, cooling, ventilation and systems; occupant schedules, equipment and lighting.[1]
The energy model should allow for results and outputs related to energy use in typical predictions and end-use categories, such as: heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, and various electromechanical processes. In addition to energy units, most programs and software include utility rates as input data and thus energy costs can be predicted.
Applications and frequent uses
• - Building design: Many commercial or residential buildings seek to comply with codes that regulate energy efficiency or simply desire optimal energy performance. Energy modeling can be used to demonstrate this efficient behavior, or predict the energy consumption that a proposed building development will have.
• - Life cycle cost analysis: Compares different alternatives for building projects in order to determine the lowest total cost, including cost of money to invest, energy cost, maintenance and replacement cost, among other related items. Sometimes known as total cost of ownership analysis.
• - Analysis for energy recycling: In conjunction with the Energy Audit, or Deep Energy Recycling, an energy model can be used to predict savings associated with a proposal for measurable energy costs and then verifiable through monitoring (also called ECMs).