If carefully done, energy modeling provides an accurate and revealing look at the building. She was surprised to learn that in the laboratory area of the building, the envelope accounted for a small percentage of thermal load. Because of the high air-change rate required, most of the cooling energy was going out with the exhaust air. In the office portion, however, the building envelope was more significant. That information allowed HOK to allocate its resources appropriately.
Energy modeling is especially useful and accurate for building renovations.
The resulting design responds to these needs. A building s solar load is determined mostly by its glazing. Often the architectural program dictates the size and placement of glass, and cooling-load considerations take a backseat. By now most architects recognize that glass on the south and west facades of the building introduces heat, while glass on the east side generally provides beneficial morning light and warm-up heat. The SHGC replaces the shading coefficient as the indicator of a window s shading ability.