Version 6.0 of the Building Efficiency System Tool (BEST), a commercial building HVAC system efficiency comparison application, is now available.
The Hydronic Industry Alliance-Commercial (HIA-C), a committee of the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA), recently released the update that helps compare options for HVAC systems at an early design stage when little information is known about the building. The tool can compare projected costs and energy usage for all HVAC systems and hot water consumption in any building “based on what is known before money is spent on selecting the HVAC and water heating systems, and (at a stage when) almost all inputs may be adjusted once the design process begins,” according to a news release.
The tool can model multiple heating and cooling sources including all electric systems using cascaded heat pumps and backup sources. “With the trend to all-electric solutions—including cascading heat pump systems—BEST is able to quickly and easily compare these innovative ideas,” says Greg Cunniff, P.E., director of Applied Solutions for Williams Comfort Products. “Legacy modeling software currently has a difficult time comparing these new ideas.”
The revised tool is available at no charge at: http://forms.iapmo.org/hiac/software_register.aspx
Related Stories
| Dec 26, 2013
USGBC recognizes Ohio for achieving 100th LEED-certified public school
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized the state of Ohio and the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) on the LEED certification of the 100th public school building in the state.
| Dec 26, 2013
WDMA launches project to create ISO-compliant architectural doors
WDMA's National Architectural Door Council has initiated a project to create ISO-compliant Product Category Rules for architectural wood flush and stile and rail doors
| Dec 19, 2013
Defense Department okays Green Globes standard for DoD facilities
The Green Globes certification program from the Green Building Initiative can be used for the renovation and construction of Department of Defense facilities following agency endorsement.
| Dec 19, 2013
New York City proposal may boost standards for crane maintenance
New York City may boost maintenance standards for cranes operating in the city, including the addition of load cycle counters to record data regarding every lift that a crane performs.
| Dec 19, 2013
Lawmakers say EPA’s Energy Star standards lack transparency
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is raising concerns that the Environmental Protection Agency has not been transparent in drafting energy-efficiency standards under the Energy Star program.
| Dec 18, 2013
ASHRAE publishes 2013 thermal comfort standard
Major revisions for design and measurement of comfortable spaces are included in a newly published ASHRAE 2013 thermal comfort standard.
| Dec 11, 2013
Texas to require architects to be fingerprinted to get licensed
Starting January 1, 2014, architects who apply for an occupational license in Texas will have to share their fingerprints with the state.
| Dec 11, 2013
Province of Ontario is reviewing bill to require timely payments to contractors
Legislation is under review in the Province of Ontario that would mandate timely payments to contractors.
| Dec 11, 2013
Federal design-build proposal could make it easier for small businesses to land government contracts
The Design-Build Efficiency and Jobs Act, a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, would streamline the bid and proposal process by requiring government agencies to use a two-step process when seeking design-build contracts for projects worth more than $750,000.
| Dec 11, 2013
NIST recommends tougher standards for tornado resilience
Buildings in tornado-prone areas should be constructed to withstand strong winds just as hurricanes are factored into building codes in coastal areas, says a federal report examining the 2011 killer tornado in Joplin, Mo.
