[tpm] help with developing an open source program for Ontario

[Chris Jones]

The new Ontario Building code has specified updated requirements for 
the energy performance of the building envelope.  Previously, the 
Ontario requirements aligned with ASHRAE 90.1 requirements and ASHRAE 
published a computer program to calculate the envelope performance 
based on some fairly simple inputs.  Because the Ontario requirements 
are now different, the software has the wrong performance 
metrics.  The calculation equations and all the coefficients are 
available in a text form.  I could develop and excel spreadsheet but 
naming all the coefficients would be a long process.

There are two paths to showing compliance with the Ontario building 
code - the prescriptive path and the system performance path.  The 
prescriptive path mandates that all envelope elements meet the 
minimum requirements.  The system performance method allows 
trade-offs.  Some building elements may be lower than the minimum but 
the calculations weigh these elements against elements that are 
better than minimum.

I estimate that about 25% of new building will pass using the 
prescriptive path.  The other 75% will either have to be designed 
differently to meet the minimum in those few locations where the 
trade-off method would allow them to pass.

This may not be a clear scope of work at the moment.  I would like to 
offer some financial support as obviously I will be making money from 
my consulting business using such a program.  On the other hand, I 
will make any program available to all practitioners in Ontario.

The simplest iteration would take a text input file and the perl 
program would spit out the analysis for that input file.

I have a PDF of the calculation methodology if anyone is interested.



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Christopher Jones, P.Eng.
Suite 1801, 1 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M5E1W7
Tel. 416-203-7465
Fax. 416-946-1005
email cj at enersave.ca