Progetto SIMEA - Automatica - Università degli Studi di Padova

SIMEA Stato dell’arte energetica degli edifici
1.2.36. Micropas6
67
Doc.No 20100610.SIMEA.MR.03
Versione 1
Easy to use detailed energy simulation program which
performs hourly calculations to estimate annual energy usage
for heating, cooling and water heating in residential buildings.
In addition to its purpose as a compliance tool for California
Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards, Micropas can be used to
demonstrate that a home meets Energy Star requirements in
California (15% above Title 24).
The program includes a load calculation for use in sizing
heating and cooling equipment. Micropas6 has been in wide use in California since the early 1980s as a
building energy code compliance tool and is growing in use elsewhere under the Model Energy Code.
The last survey showed that about 75% of the single-family homes permitted in California used
Micropas to determine code compliance. The program is mature, reliable and fast. Micropas6 is fully
supported with top notch documentation and complete printouts. The program has a wide range of features to
help automate and manage its use.
1.2.36.1. Validation/Testing
Micropas has passed the HERS Bestest Tier 1 tests.
1.2.36.2. Expertise Required
to read building plans and an understanding of how the energy efficiency of building features (e.g. Ufactors,
SHGC, R-values, SEER, etc.) are specified.
1.2.36.3. Users
Over 2300 copies have been sold since 1983, mostly in California and other west coast states. Current
users include builders, architects, engineers, mechanical contractors, utilities and energy consultants.
1.2.36.4. Audience
Although Micropas is a capable general purpose hourly simulation program for energy efficient
residential buildings, the main use of the program is to document compliance with residential building
energy codes such as the Model Energy Code and California's Title-24 Code.
1.2.36.5. Input
Data is required describing each building thermal zone (15 maximum); opaque surfaces (walls, roofs,
floors, 100 maximum); fenestration products (doors, windows, skylights, 100 maximum); thermal mass
(slabs, etc., 25 maximum); HVAC equipment (heating, cooling, venting, thermostats) and water heating
systems (domestic and hydronic heating).
1.2.36.6. Output
Seven types of clearly formatted printouts are available including summary output, detailed building
descriptions, HVAC sizing summary and assembly U-value calculations. For detailed oriented studies,
yearly, monthly, daily and hourly table output is available including time-of-use and bin data.
Annual and table outputs can be saved in delimited formats suitable for importing into other software
for additional analysis and graphics. For studies including many runs, a parametric run generator and
databases of run results are available.