Beyond the Shoebox: Thermal Zoning Approaches for Complex Building Shapes.

Current architectural trends as well as advanced building information modeling (BIM) software facilitate the design and construction of building forms that go far beyond the typical shoebox models commonly used for energy simulation. ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G provides two-dimensional guidelines for how to model thermal zones in buildings where HVAC systems and zones have not yet been designed. What is the best way to zone unusual three-dimensional shapes that present issues beyond what is covered in the ASHRAE guidelines? This paper will examine this question and determine the impact on energy model outputs by studying 3 different unusually shaped buildings of 2 different building use types in 4 different climate zones. Several zoning approaches beyond the ASHRAE guidelines will be simulated and compared using DOE-2 simulation engine and TMY2 climate data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]