Simulation Factors

Simulation factors enhance user control and extend the capabilities of building energy simulation. Unlike non-simlation factors, which perform mathematical operations on existing data without requiring additional simulations, Simulation factors enable automatic variation of building energy simulation inputs, specifically targeting operational and embodied carbon metrics. This analysis capability offers two key functionalities:

• The ability to control which factors are analyzed.
• The ability to set values across a range for each factor.

Use Simulation factors to alter design parameters that have the greatest impact on the project's outcome. Instead of making these changes in Revit, Insight allows you to experiment with the impact and save time.

Simulation factors are powered by a suite of OpenStudio Measures developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). By leveraging this open-source framework, Autodesk Insight integrates simulation factors to enble users to to evaluate a wide array of scenarios with precision.

The results of non-simulation factors are instantaneous, while simulation factors require additional computation to resolve a value. When a model is uploaded, a base run of simulation factors is run, any additional values created for the factor must first be simulated before you are able to select and view results of alternatives on the dashboard. See Simulation for additional information on managing and running simulations.

Edit Simulation Factor Values

Once you have selected an Simulation factor, a prepopulated list of factor values is displayed. You can add and delete values from the list.

• Add a value: Click the + icon to add a new row and provide a value.
• Delete a value: Click the Trash icon to remove a value from the list.

Sample Simulation Factors

The following are examples of Simulation factors you could use for analysis:

• Lighting Power Density Represents the average internal heat gain and power consumption of electric lighting units per unit of floor area.

  How it works: Set the lighting power density (W/ft²) to a specified value for all spaces that have lights. Delete all existing lighting in the model and add lights with the user-defined lighting power density to all spaces that initially had lights, using the schedule from the original lights. If multiple lights existed, the schedule will be derived from the one with the highest lighting power density value.

• Building Orientation Rotates a building clockwise from 0 degrees; e.g., 90 degrees rotates the north side of the building to face east.

  How it works: Rotate your building relative to its current orientation. This action will not rotate site shading objects. Retrieve the North Axis field for the building object and adjust it based on the user-specified value. For example, if the starting value is 20 degrees and the user-specified value is 5 degrees, the resulting value will be 25 degrees.

• Plug-in Load Efficiency The power used by equipment, i.e., computers and small appliances; excludes lighting or heating and cooling equipment.

  How it works: Set the electric equipment power density (W/ft²) to a specified value for all spaces that have electric equipment. Delete all existing electric equipment in the model and add new electric equipment with the user-defined power density to all spaces that originally had electric equipment, using the schedule from the original equipment. If multiple pieces of electric equipment existed, the schedule will be derived from the one with the highest power density value.

• Operating Schedule The typical hours of use by building occupants.

  How it works: The Operating Schedule measure creates parametric schedules for internal loads and HVAC availability, replacing existing schedules in the model with newly generated ones. These new schedules, along with the hours of operation schedule, will be applied at the building-level schedule set. The simulation factor operates on a fixed list of values from which you can choose: 24/7, 12/7, 12/6, or 12/5.

• Infiltration Rate The unintentional leaking of air into or out of conditioned spaces, often due to gaps in the building envelope.

  How it works: Set Space Infiltration Design Flow Rate per exterior area for the entire building. The infiltration rate represents the rate at which air leaks into a building through its envelope, impacting indoor air quality and building energy consumption.