Archetype Library¶

Comprehensive library of building archetypes available in EnergyAtlas.

Overview¶

The Archetype Library provides pre-defined building archetypes for common building types, vintages, and sizes. These archetypes can be used directly or customized for specific projects.

Library Structure¶

Archetypes are organized by:

• Building Type: Residential, Commercial, Mixed-Use, Institutional
• Vintage: Pre-1980, 1980-2000, Post-2000
• Size: Small, Medium, Large

Residential Archetypes¶

Pre-1980 Residential¶

Residential_Pre1980_Small - Typical single-family homes - Floor area: < 1500 sq ft - Uninsulated or minimal insulation - Older HVAC systems

Residential_Pre1980_Medium - Typical single-family homes - Floor area: 1500-2500 sq ft - Minimal wall insulation (R-11) - Standard efficiency HVAC

Residential_Pre1980_Large - Large single-family homes - Floor area: > 2500 sq ft - Variable insulation levels - Multiple HVAC zones

1980-2000 Residential¶

Residential_1980-2000_Small - Modern construction standards - Improved insulation (R-13 to R-19) - Standard efficiency HVAC - Better windows

Residential_1980-2000_Medium - Typical suburban homes - R-19 wall insulation - Standard HVAC systems - Double-pane windows

Residential_1980-2000_Large - Large modern homes - Good insulation levels - Multiple HVAC systems - Energy-efficient windows

Post-2000 Residential¶

Residential_Post2000_Small - Energy-efficient construction - High insulation (R-21+) - High-efficiency HVAC - Low-E windows

Residential_Post2000_Medium - Modern energy standards - Excellent insulation - High-efficiency systems - Advanced windows

Residential_Post2000_Large - Luxury/energy-efficient homes - Maximum insulation - Premium HVAC systems - Best available windows

Commercial Archetypes¶

Pre-1980 Commercial¶

Commercial_Pre1980_Small - Small commercial buildings - Minimal insulation - Older HVAC systems - Single-pane windows

Commercial_Pre1980_Medium - Medium office buildings - Some insulation - Standard HVAC - Basic windows

Commercial_Pre1980_Large - Large commercial buildings - Variable insulation - Central HVAC systems - Mixed window types

1980-2000 Commercial¶

Commercial_1980-2000_Small - Modern small commercial - Improved insulation - Standard efficiency HVAC - Double-pane windows

Commercial_1980-2000_Medium - Typical office buildings - Good insulation - Efficient HVAC - Energy-efficient windows

Commercial_1980-2000_Large - Large office buildings - Excellent insulation - High-efficiency HVAC - Advanced windows

Post-2000 Commercial¶

Commercial_Post2000_Small - Energy-efficient small commercial - High insulation - High-efficiency HVAC - Premium windows

Commercial_Post2000_Medium - LEED-certified buildings - Maximum insulation - Premium HVAC systems - Best windows

Commercial_Post2000_Large - High-performance buildings - Optimal insulation - Advanced HVAC - State-of-the-art windows

Mixed-Use Archetypes¶

Pre-1980 Mixed-Use¶

MixedUse_Pre1980_Medium - Older mixed-use buildings - Residential + commercial - Variable insulation - Older systems

1980-2000 Mixed-Use¶

MixedUse_1980-2000_Medium - Modern mixed-use - Improved construction - Better systems - Energy-efficient features

Post-2000 Mixed-Use¶

MixedUse_Post2000_Medium - Energy-efficient mixed-use - High-performance design - Advanced systems - Premium features

Institutional Archetypes¶

Schools¶

School_Pre1980 - Older school buildings - Large floor areas - Older HVAC systems - Basic insulation

School_1980-2000 - Modern schools - Improved systems - Better insulation - Energy-efficient features

School_Post2000 - High-performance schools - Advanced systems - Maximum efficiency - Sustainable design

Hospitals¶

Hospital_Pre1980 - Older hospitals - Complex systems - High energy use - Older equipment

Hospital_1980-2000 - Modern hospitals - Improved efficiency - Better systems - Energy management

Hospital_Post2000 - High-performance hospitals - Advanced systems - Maximum efficiency - Sustainable design

Using the Library¶

Selecting Archetypes¶

1. Navigate to Archetype Library
2. Filter by building type, vintage, size
3. Review archetype parameters
4. Select appropriate archetypes
5. Use in assignment rules

Customizing Archetypes¶

1. Select library archetype
2. Click "Create Copy"
3. Modify parameters as needed
4. Save as custom archetype
5. Use in project

Parameter Ranges¶

Wall U-Values¶

• Pre-1980: 1.0 - 2.0 W/(m²·K)
• 1980-2000: 0.5 - 1.0 W/(m²·K)
• Post-2000: 0.2 - 0.5 W/(m²·K)

Window U-Values¶

• Pre-1980: 4.0 - 6.0 W/(m²·K)
• 1980-2000: 2.0 - 4.0 W/(m²·K)
• Post-2000: 1.0 - 2.0 W/(m²·K)

HVAC Efficiency¶

• Pre-1980: Low efficiency
• 1980-2000: Standard efficiency
• Post-2000: High efficiency

Best Practices¶

1. Start with library: Use existing archetypes when possible
2. Match characteristics: Select archetypes matching your buildings
3. Customize carefully: Modify only when necessary
4. Document changes: Record any customizations
5. Validate: Test archetypes before wide use

Contributing¶

To contribute new archetypes:

1. Create archetype definition
2. Validate parameters
3. Document sources
4. Submit for review
5. Add to library

References¶

• Archetype Object - Archetype structure
• Template Definition Workflow - Using archetypes