System and method balance-point-thermal-conductivity-based building analysis the aid of a digital computer

Abstract

A system and method for balance-point-thermal-conductivity-based building analysis with the aid of a digital computer are provided. A total thermal conductivity of a building is obtained. A balance point thermal conductivity of the building is identified. The balance point thermal conductivity is divided by an area of the building to obtain the balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area. A further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of a further area of at least one further building and a further total thermal conductivity of the at least one further building is obtained. The balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area of the building is compared to the further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of the further area of the at least one further building and the total thermal conductivity is compared to the further total conductivity of the at least one building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for balance-point-thermal-conductivity-based building analysis with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
 a computer comprising a processor configured to execute code stored in a memory, the computer configured to:
 obtain a total thermal conductivity of a building; 
 identify a balance point thermal conductivity of the building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating period for a time period; 
 divide the balance point thermal conductivity by an area of the building to obtain the balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area; 
 obtain a further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of a further area of at least one further building and a further total thermal conductivity of the at least one further building; and 
 compare the balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area of the building to the further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of the further area of the at least one further building and compare the total thermal conductivity to the further total conductivity of the at least one building. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , the computer further configured to remotely control a heating source inside the building to obtain the thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermal conductivity is obtained using an empirical test conducted using the heating source. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , the computer further configured to model at least one change to the building, wherein the change is performed based on the comparison. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the units are square feet. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one further building is neighboring the building. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one further building is in a same city as the building. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , the computer further configured to:
 identify a temperature difference between an average temperature outside and an average temperature inside the building over a time period for the time period;   identify internal heating gains within the building over the time period; and   find the balance point thermal conductivity as a function of the internal heating gains over the temperature difference and duration of the heating time period.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal heating gains are identified using occupant heating gains for the building, heating gains produced by operation of electric devices in the building, and solar heating gains for the building. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the total thermal conductivity comprises the balance point thermal conductivity and thermal conductivity for auxiliary heating. 
     
     
         11 . A method for balance-point-thermal-conductivity-based building analysis with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
 obtaining by a computer, the computer comprising a processor configured to execute code stored in a memory, a total thermal conductivity of a building;   identifying by the computer a balance point thermal conductivity of the building based on a balance point up to which the building can be thermally sustained using only internal heating period for a time period;   dividing by the computer the balance point thermal conductivity by an area of the building to obtain the balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area;   obtaining by the computer a further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of a further area of at least one further building and a further total thermal conductivity of the at least one further building; and   comparing by the computer the balance point thermal conductivity per unit of the area of the building to the further balance point thermal conductivity per the unit of the further area of the at least one further building and comparing by the computer the total thermal conductivity to the further total conductivity of the at least one building.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising remotely controlling a heating source inside the building to obtain the thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermal conductivity is obtained using an empirical test conducted using the heating source. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising modeling at least one change to the building, wherein the change is performed based on the comparison. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the units are square feet. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one further building is neighboring the building. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one further building is in a same city as the building. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identify a temperature difference between an average temperature outside and an average temperature inside the building over a time period for the time period;   identify internal heating gains within the building over the time period; and   find the balance point thermal conductivity as a function of the internal heating gains over the temperature difference and duration of the heating time period.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the internal heating gains are identified using occupant heating gains for the building, heating gains produced by operation of electric devices in the building, and solar heating gains for the building. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the total thermal conductivity comprises the balance point thermal conductivity and thermal conductivity for auxiliary heating.