A study of the applications of SOLABS and BEEC building energy analysis computer programs in architectural practice /
This study investigates the application of two specific Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs (BEACP's), SOLABS and BEEC, as energy design tools in architectural practice. It focuses on the technical aspects as well as the practical aspects of such application, specifically, on the feasib...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1982.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=753837971&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | This study investigates the application of two specific Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs (BEACP's), SOLABS and BEEC, as energy design tools in architectural practice. It focuses on the technical aspects as well as the practical aspects of such application, specifically, on the feasibility of the programs in terms of their benefits to building design and their appropriateness of application at different stages of building design. The study was made with the cooperation of Holt, Fatter, Scott, Inc., of Austin, Texas, an architectural firm of medium size. The SOLABS and BEEC programs were previously developed by author during his study at the Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, and during his professional practice at the firm Holt, Fatter, Scott. These two programs were primarily chosen to represent two different types of programs. SOLABS represented a larger type of program and BEEC represented a smaller size computer program. These two programs were applied as in-house computer programs to analyze building energy during three design stages. Three different types of in-house building design projects-a residential building-, a small commercial building and a high rise office building-were selected to serve as case studies of the application of SOLABS and BEEC. The two programs were applied to predesign phase, schematic phase and design development phase of each case study. The process of energy analysis and computer application is fully described step-by-step in each case study. Complete documentation and illustrations are provided and all are analyzed and evaluated in terms of (1) each program's features and the capability of each to analyze building energy, (2) the effectiveness of the two programs as energy design tools, and (3) the users' responses to the applications of the programs. The results of computer applications are further discussed in terms of the technical and practical aspects of the programs. The final portion of the Record of Study provides an in-depth study of SOLABS and BEEC with a view towards upgrading them both-and BEACP's generally-in light of facts disclosed by the case studies. Since the study was supported by and performed in cooperation with Holt, Fatter, Scott, the study should be of direct usefulness to the firm and to other firms of a similar size and orientation. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Architecture." |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 260 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Bibliography: leaf 90. |