New Software Gives Engineers Powerful Tool
March 25, 2003, Ithaca, NY - Performance
Systems Development (PSD) and Taitem Engineering, two Ithaca-based building
performance consulting firms, announce the national release of TREAT 2.5
- Targeted Residential Energy Analysis Tools. TREAT is a powerful
new software tool designed to enable building performance, weatherization
and engineering professionals to model building energy consumption and
direct clients to the most cost-effective efficiency upgrades in single
family and multifamily buildings.
TREAT's development has been sponsored by the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in cooperation with
the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL). NYSERDA is currently integrating TREAT as the required auditing
tool for their Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®? and New York
ENERGY STAR®? Labeled Homes Programs. TREAT models building
energy consumption using hourly weather data and the SUNREL™
calculation engine developed by the NREL. In addition to building
insulation, window, and air leakage properties and mechanical system
efficiencies, the model incorporates gains from solar radiation
and lights, people and appliances.
TREAT models can include multiple heating and cooling zones as well as
unheated areas and allow users to project savings from single upgrades
and packages of upgrades, taking into account interactions between measures.
TREAT also provides the capacity to "true up" estimated energy
use against actual fuel bill data to increase the accuracy of savings
projections and provides screens for recording and reporting health and
safety data such as carbon monoxide and flue draft measurements.
"Because TREAT is powerful, accurate and easy to use, it can easily
give energy engineers and other building professionals the information
they need to recommend and track the savings from strategic upgrades to
their customers' buildings," says Ian Shapiro, president of
Taitem Engineering. "TREAT's extensive libraries of building
components allow users to create models quickly and accurately, which
is critical to those using the tool."
TREAT has been extensively tested and is pre-approved by DOE for use
in the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program. TREAT has now also
passed the Tier 1 and Tier 2 BESTEST requirements and will have the capability
to provide home energy ratings in accordance with the national Home Energy
Rating System (HERS) standard. TREAT also handles load calculations and
distribution sizing.
"TREAT's ability to custom design improvements and bundle
them into multiple scenarios or packages makes TREAT an ideal tool to
develop workscopes and cost effectiveness calculations," says Greg
Thomas, president of PSD. "This helps energy professionals quickly
produce comprehensive reports for customers."
TREAT users include: NYSERDA's Assisted Multifamily Program energy
audit providers; nhsaves, the New Hampshire electric utilities statewide
weatherization initiative; and the California Building Performance Contractors
Association, which is conducting a regional building performance pilot
with support from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Performance Systems Development is a nationally recognized consulting
firm specializing in market transformation services for building performance,
including software, training and research. Taitem Engineering is a consulting
engineering firm with extensive design, energy audit, software development,
and residential energy research experience.
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For information and general inquiries on TREAT or any of our other software and online Energy Analysis tools please contact us at:
Performance Systems Development, Inc.
124 Brindley St. Ste. 4
Phone: 607-277-6240
Fax: 607-277-6224
www.psdconsulting.com
www.pscontracting.com
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