This project has two paralleled components. The first is the creation of a building energy simulation model of the Engineering 2 building that will allow us to compare and analyze the buildings energy efficiency. This will include acquiring data from this highly instrumented building on UCSC campus, compiling logistics of the building, constructing the model, and running the simulation. We will test how well the building is performing by comparing it to the building model, thus validating the performance of that building. We will critically analyze the buildings actual performance compared to predicted performance in order to assess if a proper level of efficiency is being achieved. This will provide our team with comparative data to further evaluate the buildings performance and efficiency so that modification recommendations can be compiled and eventually implemented.

This portion of the project will be using EnergyPlus and Design Builder software to create the building model.

The second component will use the data to design and program an interactive visual representation of the information to make it more accessible and relatable to people that interact with the building on a regular basis. This visualization tool will be specifically tailored for building performance data. This program would improve upon the typical "energy dashboard" type displays that are currently prevalent, by creating a unique user interface that can deal with the multi-dimensional nature of this data. By providing an easily accessible interactive simplification of energy consumption of the building, occupants will be more connected to their building and incentivized to reduce their personal energy consumption.