Energy Simulation of HVAC Systems with High Performance Windows

The objective of this study is to determine the most energy efficient and cost effective combination of architectural elements and mechanical systems to specify in an office building while maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for the occupants. A commercial office building located in the Minneapolis area with three heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and three window systems (double clear, double low E and triple low E) has been simulated by Energyplus. The HVAC systems include variable air volume (VAV) with reheat, VAV with baseboard heater, and a radiant floor system. All nine combinations of window and HVAC systems have been compared and studied in terms of energy use and operating costs, while maintaining nearly identical indoor thermal comfort conditions in Minneapolis weather condition. A model for calculating mean radiant temperature (MRT) and temperature asymmetry has been developed to estimate the temperature asymmetry of a perimeter zone of the building.