The project’s objective was the analysis, study and simulation of a multifamily building. The building is a part of the recreation proposal for the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
For the scope of the study, the building was designed in Design Builder, Version 3.0.0.064, and its HVAC systems were studied in Energy Plus, Version 6.0.
Mellon Arena Urban Redevelopment Energy Performance Simulation
1. Mellon Arena Urban Redevelopment
Energy Performance Simulation
BUILDING | MULTIFAMILY C
2. Description of the BUILDING
The project’s objective was the analysis, study and
simulation of a multifamily building. The building is a part
of the recreation proposal for the Mellon Arena in
Pittsburgh. It is located in Block F.
For the scope of the study, the building was designed in
Design Builder, Version 3.0.0.064, and its HVAC systems
were studied in Energy Plus, Version 6.0.
N
BUILDING iNFORMATION
Master plan of Urban development | Multifamily C on the site
Number of Floors 5
Function Residential (Upper 4 Floors)
Retail ( First Floor)
Orientation NW-SE [27° tilt]
Total Building Area 5430.01 sqft
Conditioned Building
Area 3772.98 sqft
Unconditioned
Building Area 1657.03 sqft
Area of redevelopment of Mellon Arena
3. Location + CLIMATE data
Pittsburgh falls under climatezone 5A as per IECC 2012
and has 5986 Heating Degree Days and 654 Cooling
Degree Days. This makes it a predominantly cold climate
region. With these climatic conditions, the design
emphasis is to maximize the thermal performance of the
building envelope.
CLiMATE DATA
Climate Zone 5A
Latitude N 40° 20’
Longtitude W 79° 55’
Elevation above sea level 380 meters
Heating Degree Days 5986
Cooling Degree Days 654
Heating Dominant Climate
4. Identification of Thermal Zones ANALYSiS of the Building
Design Builder Version 3.0
5_K1
1_R1
1_R7
5_K6 5_B1
5_B6
1_S1
5_S1 1_SC1
5_SC1
1_R2
1_R5
1_R6
5_K5 5_B2
5_B5 5_K2 1_SC2
5_SC2
1_S2
5_S2 5_B3
1_R3
5_B4 5_K3 1_R4
5_K4
Res_Bedroom N
Res_kitchen
Adiabetic Zones Retail
Stairs / Corridors Service Cores
5. 1
Defining the SCHEDULES
Weekday
0.8
0.6
RETAiL
Occupancy
0.4
Lighting
0.2
Equipment
0
RES_KiTCHEN
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
Weekday
Occupancy
0.3
0.2 Lighting
0.1 Equipment
0
Lighting and Equipment Densities
Retail Residential Standard
W/m² W/ft² W/m² W/ft² DOE
Stand Alone Retail, New Construction 2004, Version 5,
15.05 1.4 6.45
Lighting 0.60 Space Considered: Core Retail Front
Equipment 3.23 0.30 5.335 0.50 Mid Rise Apt, New Construction, 2004
Occupancy Densities
Retail Residential Standard
people/m² People/ft² People/m² People/ft² Retail-ASHRAE 62.1.2004
Occupancy 0.326 0.0326 0.0375 0.00375 Residential-Derived
6. BASE CASE | UDA Defining the MATERIALS
LAYERS THICKNESS (in)
EXTERiOR WALL Brickwork, Outer leaf 3.937
RETAiL Air Gap 0.197
Polyethlene, Polythene 0.004 ASHRAE 90.1
EPS Expanded Polystrene 2.362 U Values
Concrete Block (Heavyweight) 5.906 [BTU/hr ft² F]
Gypsum Board 0.512
U Value: 0.078 BTU/hr ft² F 0.09
EXTERiOR WALL Brickwork, outer leaf 3.937
RESiDENTiAL Air gap 0.197
Polyethylene, Polythene 0.004
EPS expanded polystrene 0.984
Mineral fibre / wool 5.906
Woods softwood (25% bridging)
Gypsum Plaster 0.512
U Value:0.051 BTU/hr ft² F 0.064
ROOF | SEMi Roofing Felt 0.039
EXPOSED Loose fill / powders cellulose 7.283
Mineral fibre / wool 3 GLAZING & WINDOW PROPERTIES
Woods Softwood (15% bridging) BASE CASE (UDA)
Airgap (25 mm) 0.984 Double Low E Tint
Gypsum Plasterboard 0.512 Window Type 6mm/13mm Air
Roofing Felt 0.039 SHGC 0.38
Light Transmission 0.444
GROUND SLAB U Value: 0.027 BTU/hr ft² F 0.027
Sand & gravel 3.937 Total U value
EPS Expanded Polystrene 1.181 (btu/hr ft2 F) 0.31
Concrete cast - heavyweight 5.906
Rubber tiles 0.276 Glazing % - 30%
U Value: 0.159 BTU/hr ft² F R4 as per DOE energy standards
7. METHODOLOGY
ENVELOPE: UDA guidelines
CASE 1 GLAZiNG: Simple
HVAC: Retail: VAV reheat
A Residential: Split system
ENVELOPE: UDA guidelines
CASE 2 GLAZiNG: Spectral
HVAC: Retail: VAV reheat
C Residential: Split system
B
ENVELOPE: UDA guidelines
CASE 3 GLAZiNG: Spectral
HVAC: Retail
+Residential: Constant Volume DX
ENVELOPE: Proposed
CASE 4 GLAZiNG: Simple
HVAC: Retail: VAV reheat
Residential: Split system
8. COMPARISON A | Case 1 + Case 2
end uses Annual Energy | EUI | End Uses
0% 1% 4% 0% 1%
4%
4% 7%
4%
6%
[SiMPLE] vs [SPECTRAL]
Heating 17% 18%
13% 13%
Cooling
Lighting
Equipment
Fans
Pumps
Heat Rejection
Energy Use Intensity
Service Water Heating
54% 44
Total area
54%
kBTU/ft²
Case 1 Case 2
42
[SiMPLE] [SPECTRAL]
+ 0.26%
40
Annual Energy Use Intensity
220 consumption Conditioned Area
65 38
MMBTUs
kBTU/ft²
215
210
205 60
200 36
55
34.03
195
33.94
190
170,442
170,887
50
185 34
180 45
175
170 40
165 32
160 1 35
155
150 2 30 30
CASE 1 CASE 2 CASE 1 CASE 2 CASE 1 CASE 2
9. 102000
101500
37800
37600
COMPARISON A | Case 1 + Case 2
101000 37400 HVAC Sizing User Design Loads
100500 37200
100000 37000
Hours Time Set-Points Not Met
99500 36800
99000 36600
98500 36400 HVAC
98000 36200
sizing
97500 36000
97000 35800
factor
Cooling CASE Cooling CASE Heating CASE Heating CASE 1.2
1 2 1 2
HVAC Sizing User
End Use Consumptions Design Loads
1200 1105.93 1094.22
Case 1 Case 2
Time Set Point Not Met During 1000 901.81
Occupied Heating 22.33 20.83 802.87
800
Time Set Point Not Met During
Occupied Cooling 29.5 27.5
kBTUs/hr
600
Time Set Point Met During 8708.17 8711.67
Occupied Hours (99%) (99%)
400
Time Not Comfortable Based
200
on Simple ASHRAE 55-2004 6987 6611.33 1
Time Comfortable Based on 1773 2148.67
Simple ASHRAE 55-2004 (28%) (33%) 0 2
Heating Cooling
10. HVAC systems ANALYSiS
HVAC | Split system
CASE 1, 2 4
Setpoint Temperature
Thermostatic Zones - Degrees (deltaC)
Tolerance for Time Heating Setpoint Not Met 0.56
Degrees Degrees
Tolerance for Time Cooling Setpoint Not Met 0.56
Retail Heating 64 Residential Heating 69 Setback Temperature
Retail Cooling 73 Residential Cooling 77
ASHRAE Standard – 68-78 F Cooling 82 Heating 53
[Split System – No Fresh Air]
12. COMPARISON B | Case 2 + Case 3
end uses Annual Energy | EUI | End Uses
4% 0% 1% 2% 4%
4% 6% 19%
13% 18% 25%
Heating
Cooling
Lighting 10%
Equipment
Fans
Pumps Energy Use Intensity
Heat Rejection
Service Water Heating 54% 40% 44
Total area
kBTU/ft²
Case 2 Case 3
42
[VAV+split] [Constant DX] + 27%
Annual Energy Use Intensity 40
consumption Conditioned Area
43.10
65
kBTU/ft²
220
38
MMBTUs
215
60
210
216,414
205
200 55 36
34.03
195
190 50
170,887
185 34
180 45
175
170 40
32
165
160
2 35
155
150 3 30 30
CASE 2 CASE 3 CASE 2 CASE 3
CASE 2 CASE 3
13.
14. HVAC systems ANALYSiS
Setpoint/Setback Temperature
CASE 3
Setpoint Temperature
Thermostatic Zones - Degrees (deltaC)
Tolerance for Time Heating Setpoint Not Met 0.56
Degrees Degrees
Tolerance for Time Cooling Setpoint Not Met 0.56
Retail Heating 64 Residential Heating 69 Setback Temperature
Retail Cooling 73 Residential Cooling 77
ASHRAE Standard – 68-78 F Cooling 82 Heating 53
[Constant Volume DX]
15. BASE UDA | PROPOSED COMPARISON C | Case 1 + Case 4
LAYERS THICKNESS (in) Proposed MATERiALS
EXTERiOR WALL Brickwork, Outer leaf 3.937
RETAiL Air Gap 0.197
Polyethlene, Polythene 1.500
EPS Expanded Polystrene 3.937
Concrete Block (Heavyweight) 5.906
Gypsum Board 0.512
0.078 BTU/hr ft2F U Value: 0.051 BTU/hr ft² F
EXTERiOR WALL Brickwork, outer leaf 3.937
RESiDENTiAL Air gap 0.197
Polyethylene, Polythene 0.004
EPS expanded polystrene 3.937
Mineral fibre / wool 5.906
Woods softwood (25% bridging)
Gypsum Plaster 0.512
0.051 BTU/hr ft2F U Value:0.031 BTU/hr ft² F
ROOF | SEMi Roofing Felt 0.039
EXPOSED Loose fill / powders cellulose 7.283
Mineral fibre / wool 3.937
Woods Softwood (15% bridging)
Airgap (25 mm) 0.984
Gypsum Plasterboard 0.512
GLAZING & WINDOW PROPERTIES
Roofing Felt 0.039
BASE CASE (UDA)
0.027 BTU/hr ft2F U Value: 0.024 BTU/hr ft² F Triple Low E Tint
GROUND SLAB Sand & gravel 3.937 Window Type 3mm/13mm Air
EPS Expanded Polystrene 3.937 SHGC 0.303
Concrete cast - heavyweight 5.906 Light Transmission 0.455
Rubber tiles 0.276 Total U value
0.159 BTU/hr ft2F U Value: 0.044 BTU/hr ft² F (btu/hr ft2 F) 0.213
16. COMPARISON C | Case 1 + Case 4
end uses Annual Energy | EUI | End Uses
0% 1% 4%
0% 1%
4% 7% 1%
4% 5% 18%
Heating 17%
13%
Cooling 14%
Lighting
Equipment
Fans
Pumps
Heat Rejection
Energy Use Intensity
Service Water Heating
54% 57%
Total area
44
Case 1 Case 4
kBTU/ft²
[UDA guidelines] [PROPOSED] 42
Annual Energy Use Intensity 40
220 consumption 65 Conditioned Area
-6%
MMBTUs
kBTU/ft²
215
210 60 38
205
200 55
33.94
195 36
190 50
170,442
185
180 45 34
160,323
31.92
175
170 40
165 32
160 1 35
155
150 4 30 30
CASE 1 CASE 4 CASE 1 CASE 4 CASE 1 CASE 4
17. 99000
40000
COMPARISON C | Case 1 + Case 4
98500 35000 HVAC Sizing User Design Loads
98000
30000 Hours Time Set-Points Not Met
25000
97500
20000
HVAC
97000 15000
sizing
10000
96500 factor
5000
96000
0
1.2
Cooling Cooling
Heating Heating
CASE 1 CASE 4
CASE 1 CASE 4 HVAC Sizing User
End Use Consumptions Design Loads
1200 11051076
Case 1 Case 4
1000
Time Set Point Not Met During
Occupied Heating 22.33 0 802.87 814.88
800
Time Set Point Not Met During
Kbtu/hr
Occupied Cooling 29.5 29.17 600
Time Set Point Met During 8708.17 8730.83
Occupied Hours (99%) (100%) 400
Time Not Comfortable Based 200
1
on Simple ASHRAE 55-2004 6987 6204.5
Time Comfortable Based on 1773 2555.5 0 4
Simple ASHRAE 55-2004 (28%) (40%) Heating Cooling
![Description of the BUILDING
The project’s objective was the analysis, study and
simulation of a multifamily building. The building is a part
of the recreation proposal for the Mellon Arena in
Pittsburgh. It is located in Block F.
For the scope of the study, the building was designed in
Design Builder, Version 3.0.0.064, and its HVAC systems
were studied in Energy Plus, Version 6.0.
N
BUILDING iNFORMATION
Master plan of Urban development | Multifamily C on the site
Number of Floors 5
Function Residential (Upper 4 Floors)
Retail ( First Floor)
Orientation NW-SE [27° tilt]
Total Building Area 5430.01 sqft
Conditioned Building
Area 3772.98 sqft
Unconditioned
Building Area 1657.03 sqft
Area of redevelopment of Mellon Arena](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)