- Author
- Powell, J. W.
- Title
- Economic Model for Passive Solar Designs in Commercial Environments. Building Science Series.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBS BSS 125, June 1980,
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- economic models; economic analysis; commercial buildings | economic analysis | solar energy
- Identifiers
- passive solar heating systems; life-cycle costs; financial incentives
- Abstract
- The report presents an economic model for evaluating passive solar designs in commercial environments. It discusses the literature on this topic and draws upon this literature to develop a general methodological framework. The model incorporates a life-cycle costing approach that focuses on the costs of purchase, installation, maintenance, repairs, replacement, and energy. It includes a detailed analysis of tax laws affecting the use of solar energy in commercial buildings. Possible methods of treating difficult-to-measure benefits and costs, such as effects of the passive solar design on resale value of the building and on lighting costs, rental income from the building, and the use of commercial space, are presented. The model is illustrated in two case examples of prototypical solar designs for low-rise commercial buildings in an urban setting.