Algorithms for Builder Guidelines

The Builder Guidelines are designed to make simple, appropriate guidelines available to builders for their specific localities. Builders may select; from passive solar and conservation strategies with different performance potentials. They can then compare the calculated results for their particular house design with a typical house in the same location. Algorithms used to develop the BuilderGuidelines are described. The main algorithms used are the monthly solar load ratio (SLR) method for winter heating, the diurnal heat capacity (DHC) method for temperature swing, and a new simplified calculation method (McCool) for summer cooling. This paper applies the algorithms to estimate the performance potential of passive solar strategies, and the annual heating and cooling loads ofvarious combinations of conservation and passive solar strategies. The basis of the McCool method is described. All three methods are implemented in a microcomputer program used to generate the guideline numbers. Guidelines for Denver, Colorado, are used to illustrate the results. The structure of the guidelines and worksheet booklets are also presented.