6.1.1 Definition of Building Descriptors

Building descriptors provide information about the proposed design and the baseline building. In this chapter, the building descriptors are discussed in the generic terms of engineering drawings and specifications. By using generic building descriptors, this manual avoids bias toward one particular energy simulation engine. The building descriptors in this chapter are consistent with commonly used simulation software. Other building descriptors may be substituted as long as the input restrictions and definition of the baseline building conditions are consistent.

Each energy simulation program has its own way of accepting building information. EnergyPlus, for instance, uses a comma delimited data file called an IDF file. DOE-2 uses BDL (building design language) to accept information. It is the responsibility of the COMNET software developer to translate the generic terms used in this chapter into the “native language” of the simulation program used by the software. Figure 6.1.1-1 illustrates the flow of information.

Figure 6.1.1-1: "Information Flow"