About

Energy Generation Model

This simulation uses version one of our simulation data. Minor revisions have been made in the energy simulation and cost estimation data to improve accuracy for research purposes. You can find more information about the simulation data by visiting our web site.

This model uses average weather patterns from Missouri, including climate data such as temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, to calculate energy usage and energy generation. Operational costs are based on average utility rates of Missouri in 2023.

This is a systems model. Systems models show inputs into the system (such as daylight), how the inputs interact with the system components (such as building geometry, windows, insulation), and the outputs from the system (such as CO₂ emissions). In this interactive model, you can modify various aspects of the building design and monitor potential energy usage and energy generation. As you make changes, the model updates to reflect how these choices impact the overall energy efficiency and sustainability of the school building.

Models are limited because they cannot represent everything that exists in the system. For this model, we focused on design choices that affect light, electrical, and thermal energy. Notice that the model does not include people in the room. If there were people in the model, how do you think that would change the energy performance?

System models use modeling features so they are useful to us to understand and study systems.

• System models have boundaries. The models are very big, so a boundary defines the system that we are studying. For this model, our system boundary includes the building and external factors like daylight and weather patterns.
• System models have interacting parts within the boundary. Our system examines how features of the building (such as HVAC system, geometry, size, windows, doors, insulation, and roof style) and objects within the building (such as computers, cell phone chargers, and the number of lights) interact with each other.
• System models have outputs from the interacting parts, such as CO₂ emissions, energy usage and energy generation

Definitions & Calculations

Building Cost
Building cost used historical data collected from the real school buildings built in 2023. Total building costs include building materials, mechanical and electrical systems. Since our school design is a one-room building, several cost items are not considered such as land, site preparation, landscape, etc.

Low-Performing Building
Our low-performing building cost uses the worst possible outcome from our energy generation model for each building size/shape combination.

Green Rating
How much energy does a building use per square foot. Our calculation combines the EUI calculated in our energy use model, combined with linearized device and lighting use.

Thermal Comfort
On average, are most students a comfortable temperature throughout the year or are they sometimes a little hot or a little cold.

Lighting Comfort
Do students have enough light to comfortably do their work? We determine this rating starting with the sDA value generated in our energy use model. Then we linearly improved the rating based on how lighting hours (number of lights x hours on) students add, assuming lights are turned on when most needed.

Learning Device Availability
Do you have the computers, smart boards, etc. that are needed in a modern classroom? This rating is simplified to reflect the number of devices you've added compared to the number of students that can fit in the classroom.

Energy Used
Total amound of energy used by HVAC system, lighting, and devices over a specified period.

Energy Generated
Total amound of energy generated by on-site solar or wind over a specified period.

CO₂ Emissions
Amount of carbon released through building operation over a specified period.