Energy Modeling and Calibration of a Mixed-use Building with Laboratories, Offices and Classrooms

In general, mixed-use buildings with laboratories, offices, and classrooms consume significant energy and are very energy intensive. These buildings provide great opportunities for energy efficiency improvement from mechanical and energy systems. However, the interconnected complexity of system and equipment in buildings with laboratories makes modeling of these buildings a unique and challenging task. This paper presents the development and calibration of a university mixed-used building using the EnergyPlus simulation program. The building under study is the South Engineering Research Center (SERC) building. Air Handler Units (AHU) equipped with Energy Recovery Units (ERU) supply 100% outside air to the laboratory spaces through terminal Variable Air Volume Boxes (VAV). Chilled water and hot water are delivered from the campus central energy plant. The modeling process, preliminary calibration, and verification results, as well as implementation issues encountered throughout the modeling and calibration processes from a user’s perspective, are presented and discussed.