New Task to Continue Work on Building Energy Analysis Tools

By the time Task 12 was completed in 1994, it had made important contributions to state-of-the-art solar building design and analysis, and to IEA SHC's reputation as a leader in tool development and evaluation. Task 12 results include a data base of high performance glazing materials useful to designers and analysts, a report on atrium modeling and performance, ADELINE (Advanced Daylighting and Electric Lighting Integrated New Environment), a comprehensive lighting analysis tool, and BESTEST (Building Energy Simulation Test and Diagnostics Method), a comparative evaluation method for building energy analysis tools.

Despite the success of Task 12, there is an ongoing challenge to increase the use of computer-based tools in building design professions. To help accomplish this, the SHC Executive Committee decided to undertake a new project that will build upon the research of Task 12. The new project, Task 22, Building Energy Analysis Tools, will investigate the availability and accuracy of building energy analysis tools and engineering models to evaluate the performance of solar and low-energy buildings.

Task 22 will (1) continue the work of SHC Task 12 and the Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems (BCS) Annex 21 in evaluating building energy analysis tools to predict the performance of widely used solar and low-energy concepts, (2) collect and document engineering models of widely used solar and low-energy concepts for use in the next generation building analysis tools, and (3) assess and document the value of improved building energy analysis tools in analyzing solar, low-energy buildings, and widely distribute research results to tool users, industry associations, and government agencies.

As in Task 12, the SHC Program will work collaboratively with the BCS Program. The U.S. Department of Energy will lead this new Task.

More information on Task 22 can be obtained from the Task Organizer, Michael Holtz.