Trial / Demo
Leveraging advanced IESVE simulation, Mazzetti and Arup performed detailed performance analysis of the UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital in California to ensure optimization of mechanical systems for thermal comfort and energy performance, aligning with UCSF's sustainability and high-performance building design goals.
The UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital in California is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility which has achieved significant operational energy savings through advanced energy modeling, compared to baseline hospital designs. Leveraging advanced IESVE simulation, Mazzetti and Arup performed detailed performance analysis to ensure optimization of mechanical systems for thermal comfort and energy performance, aligning with UCSF's sustainability and high-performance building design goals.
The building performance analysis for this project was developed through close collaboration between Mazzetti and Arup. Their coordinated effort was instrumental in integrating advanced IESVE energy modeling, mechanical system design and sustainability strategies to achieve the project's ambitious performance goals.
Innovative Use of IESVE Software
The use of IESVE software went beyond traditional energy modeling, providing advanced analytics that informed design choices and helped meet performance targets in a highly complex hospital environment.
The project comprised five key areas of innovation:
1. Streamlined Load Calculation Workflow
To enhance collaboration between the modeling and mechanical design teams, a streamlined load calculation workflow was developed, ensuring load calculations adapt effectively to dynamic design changes.
A custom spreadsheet tool was implemented to support this process, integrating CMC Table 4A ventilation calculations for healthcare spaces, as well as terminal unit and AHU sizing and selection. The IES load calculation process was seamlessly incorporated into the spreadsheet workflow, aligning with the engineers' existing methodologies for greater efficiency.
Additionally, a BIM room schedule workflow was established to ensure that room names in IESVE align with the design team’s specifications, which is a critical step in maintaining consistency throughout the evolving design process.
Figure 1: the spreadsheet tool that increased workflow efficiency
2. Advanced System Modeling
The team used IESVE’s advanced HVAC modeling capabilities to evaluate different design strategies around the air-side system, including run-around coil heat recovery for the 100% outdoor air AHUs, dedicated OA systems, plus air handling units for the operating rooms to reduce reheat energy.
Figure 2: the operation room air-side system diagram
A parametric analysis of room-level load calculations was conducted for various façade designs to ensure the feasibility of displacement ventilation in patient rooms.
Figure 3: the parametric analysis on solar radiation
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out to validate that displacement ventilation (DV) effectively creates a thermally comfortable environment.
3. Decarbonization and Electrification Strategy
IESVE’s advanced HVAC modeling capabilities evaluated the impact of an all-electric central plant design, incorporating heat recovery chillers and air-source heat pumps to align with UCSF’s campus sustainability goal: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045.
Figure 4: the annual heating and cooling load of the building, along with the simultaneous heating and cooling demand, provided key insights for system sizing decisions
The team tested the advanced control sequence of the all-electric central plant operations. They also collaborated with the whole campus decarbonization workforce to integrate the building level plant with the existing campus central plant.
Figure 5: the water-side system setting
4. Data-driven Design Collaboration and Automation through Python Scripting
Real, measured load profile (DHW, process load etc.) was used from an existing hospital project to establish a load profile to be used as inputs for the design, thereby more realistically representing operational conditions.
Python scripting was utilized to automatically import 8,760 hours load profile into the VE.
5. Excellent Performance under LEED Rating System
The ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Navigator in IESVE was used for LEED energy performance evaluation, and the project is pursuing LEED Gold Certification under the LEED v4 BD+C: Healthcare rating system.
In Summary
The project's industry-leading innovation, achieved through the collaborative efforts of Mazzetti and Arup and the Integrated Form of Agreement (IFOA) project team, demonstrates the significant impact of advanced IESVE energy modeling in realizing substantial operational energy savings for healthcare facilities.
The resulting scalable model and clear decarbonization strategy for electrified and resilient hospital buildings establish a compelling industry benchmark, proving the critical role of sophisticated energy simulation in shaping smarter and more sustainable future healthcare environments.
"IESVE's advanced analytics were instrumental in driving significant energy savings and a robust decarbonization strategy for this complex project. The innovative workflows, from streamlined load calculations to system simulations have not only informed critical design decisions, but also set a new benchmark for sustainable and resilient healthcare facilities.
A special shoutout to James Ramage, project energy modeling lead, and Yujia Tong, project energy modeler. This accomplishment underscores our commitment to excellence and sustainability in building design and performance.”
Te Qi, Building Performance Team Lead, Mazzetti
