Understanding the Impact of Climate Zones for Occupancy Trends in Sustainable Housing Designs Available to Purchase

The purpose of the paper is to provide a model prediction to capture how energy usage in sustainable buildings on college campuses is affected by different climate zones. A case study focus is on the California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Student Housing Phase III which received a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the Building Design and Construction category. In a previous CSUF study, the energy usage and cost data for the 2014–2015 academic year was compared to the predicted data from the LEED NC 2.2. The comparison revealed there was a small discrepancy, 10%, between the values for predicted electrical consumption versus actual consumption; however, a greater difference, 135%, between the gas consumption exists. Using LEED approved simulation software, the ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED California Nonresidential Title 24 (NRT 24) compliant energy simulation models is compared; the results will provide input over which variables within student dormitory life affect the energy usage of the building. Some solutions may update the LEED project certification as well as reduce student energy usage.