- Author
-
Petersen, S. R.
- Title
- SOLCOM: A Computer Program to Integrate Solar and Conservation Economics for New Commercial Buildings.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 83-2658,
February 1983,
138 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
building design
|
commercial buildings
|
energy conservation
|
engineering economics
|
heating and cooling equipment
|
heating and cooling loads
|
life-cycle analysis
|
optimization algorithms
|
solar heating
- Abstract
- This report provides a methodology, algorithms and a computer program for determining the least life-cycle cost combination of three strategies include (1) envelope modifications to reduce seasonal and peak load heating and cooling requirements, (2) heating and cooling plant modifications to increase their seasonal efficiency, and (3) the use of an active solar space and water heating system. The resulting computer program, called SOLCOM, can be run on a microcomputer in three stages. The SOLCOM program performs a complete life-cycle cost analysis for the active solar system and for each envelope and plant modification to be considered, include tax and mortgage effects. The program then determines the optimal combination of envelope modifications and the resulting seasonal and peak load heating and cooling requirements; the optimal space heating, water heating, and space cooling plant efficiencies; and the optimal collector size for the active solar heating system.