Building Performance Analysis for School Renovation | cove.tool

To replace their aging steam-heating system, Columbia Falls High School reached out to Jackola, a Montana-based Engineering and Architecture firm. Their objective was to upgrade the existing system to a more efficient one that utilized hot water heating. Jackola attributes the significant reduction in effort, nearly by half, and the ability to explore a broader range of solutions to the adoption of cove.tool's loadmodeling.tool and analysis.tool.

Building Analysis

Using cove.tool's drawing.tool 3D modeling platform, the Jackola team skillfully created models of the school, exploring various HVAC design options including a gas boiler, Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system, and a ground source heat pump system. Afterward, the team conducted a comprehensive annual cost and energy analysis using analysis.tool. The findings were then presented to the high school, accompanied by data and graphics derived from the tool, during the initial interview.

As a result, the school gained a clearer understanding of the costs associated with each solution, enabling them to compare them against existing energy costs and determine the most suitable option that aligned with their budget. The school was particularly impressed by the team's meticulous attention to detail, considering the district's goals for the school and their concerns regarding the timing of the system replacement. Furthermore, the client acknowledged the substantial amount of pre-work performed beforehand and subsequently awarded the firm with the full design project.

A Cost-Effective System

The VRF system proved to be in the best interest of the school, offering a higher return on investment (ROI) and the added benefit of providing comfort cooling to the entire high school—a feature that was previously absent. Moreover, the adoption of the VRF system allowed the school to allocate more funds toward essential equipment.

The utilization of cove.tool in this project enabled the engineers to swiftly identify solutions and receive personalized recommendations throughout the entire process. The team attributes cove.tool's contribution to its ability to provide prompt and dynamic analysis of the available alternatives. This facilitated the client in making a final decision on a solution that would truly make a difference in the lives of the students attending the school.

Choosing cove.tool

For years, Jackola relied on the industry standard HVAC modeling program, TRACE700, for load calculations and mechanical design. However, with such a crucial part of its day-to-day operations on the brink of being phased out, the team at Jackola moved quickly to find a new solution for every aspect of building design and analysis.

cove.tool simplifies the process of producing, evaluating, and optimizing layouts, building performance, and environmental impact for teams. It utilizes machine learning and AI to identify design elements that not only perform well but also cost less. The team at Jackola recognized cove.tool's potential and the impact it could have on the business. These were some of their main drivers:

• Efficiency: loadmodeling.tool enabled the firm to present proposals more quickly, increasing their chances of securing winning bids and gaining an advantage over competitors
• Collaboration: cove.tool facilitated better collaboration, allowing team members to compare notes and share project-related information seamlessly, regardless of time or location
• Interoperability: The platform's emphasis on interoperability raised the standards for team performance, ensuring smoother coordination and integration among different aspects of a project
• Live Chat: The Live Chat feature proved highly valuable, reducing response times from days to hours. This not only boosted team productivity but also eliminated many project dependencies that could hinder progress