GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION CONSULTING
Why? Modern architectural/construction firms do incredible work and apply the most efficient practices to fit the budget requirements. However, to easily claim to be energy efficient, occupant friendly, and sustainable every construction needs a certification. These certifications are obtained after the inspection of a third-party organization which are recognized worldwide. These certifications would provide visibility and credibility which would increase the selling/renting value of at least 15%.
LEED (new.usgbc.org/leed)The USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most popular worldwide certification and is mainly applied in America, UAE, China and India. The core of this green building certification comes from the respect of US standards ASHRAE and promote an integrative approach to design from all key-players from site selection to building operation. The voluntary built credits are simple of understanding, however demonstrate the maximum level of sustainability called Platinum is a challenge.
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BREEAM (www.breeam.com/)Based on the UK's and European standard the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the certification of preference for European countries and is spreading to other parts of the world as the alternative to LEED. This certification has criterion which adapts to local contexts and is focus on reducing the carbon gas emission before reducing costs. The documentation is designed to be understood by academics of the industry and only an accredited professional can audit projects (such as our team).
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BUILDING ENERGY MODELING
HVAC System Sizing
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVACs) for commercial buildings are usually sized by the HVAC contractor. These experts’ goal is to install the HVAC system that they are experienced with. Chaac Simulaciones Inc as a third-party will design/ analyse/ optimize the system which is the most suitable for our client by using the most accurate information such as full-year weather data, real construction materials, and representative internal loads.
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Building Energy Consumption Optimization
Today's investors are willing to pay higher rates for higher efficiency building, since at medium-long term the cost could be as high as the initial investment. In most cases, a 5% increment in building generates at least 20% energy saving. From design to operation phase, Chaac Simulaciones Inc assist their client to improve their building efficiency by providing accurate savings percentage for specific investment. We are specialist in optimizing any building type respecting the budget established.
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Passive Building Design
Net-zero carbon (NZC) or passive building is construction optimized to consumes as much energy as it produces. This is the ultimate goal for sustainability and to attain it the following passive methods are used:
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COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS ADVANCED ANALYSIS
Not labeled images are a courtesey of Envenio, the on-demand CFD software.
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What is CFD?
Great mathematicians/ physicist of the past centuries have developed equations to predict the behaviour of what surrounds us, fluids, using advanced differential equations (for that time at least). However, this had to be calculated considering fluid at a mole level (1 mole = 6.022 x 10^23 molecules), this represents 3.346*10^25 molecules just for a litre of water. Thus, geniuses of that time find a way to approximate the phenomenon they wanted to study using integrals which reduces their equations to less than 10 variables. Since, the invention of computers, and its recent evolution, it is possible to solve fluid equation at a close to molecular level. Why use CFD? Building and HVAC development must be optimized to save cost, provide safe environment, and allows urban environment aesthetic. Thus forth, engineers need to be able to predict air velocity, temperature, humidity and contaminant concentration accurately at the design stage. CFD tools permit to visualize, analyse and optimize indoor and outdoor environment at a low cost. Where use CFD ? For many years, CFD was only used for high speed application (aircraft, rockets, cars) for safety reasons. Now we should apply this knowledge to where average people spend 87% of their life: buildings. To have these environment comfortable, conditioned efficiently and safe of contaminant CFD is needed. |