An exterior wall is that portion of the building envelope, including opaque area and fenestration that is vertical or tilted at an angle of 60° from horizontal or greater. This includes above- and below-grade walls, between-floor spandrels, peripheral edges of floors, and foundation walls.


Note: Adjacent surfaces of connected blocks in the tool are considered to be internal walls, not adiabatic. If the thermostat setpoints between the two blocks are different, then the EnergyPlus model will have heat transfer between the thermal zones.


Energy Asset Score Inputs for Walls:


Name –Default component text and counters are automatically added. This entry may be edited to include other descriptive or identifying text.


Wall Type – Pull-down menu selections:

Brick/Stone on Masonry – The base assembly consists of individual units (such as clay brick, concrete units) laid in and bound together. The exterior finish is brick or stone.

Brick/Stone on Steel Frame – The base assembly consists of a cavity separated by steel framing members (such as typical steel stud walls and curtain wall systems). The exterior finish is brick or stone.

Brick/Stone on Wood Frame – The base assembly consists of conventional framed wood with insulation installed between. The exterior finish is brick or stone.

Metal Panel/Curtain Wall – The base assembly of the wall consists of metal spanning members supported by steel structural members with insulation between metal framing.

Siding on Steel Frame – The base assembly consists of steel columns, girders, and beams. The exterior finish is siding.

Siding on Wood Frame – The base assembly consists of conventional framed wood with insulation installed between. The exterior finish is siding.

Brick/Stone on Masonry – Below Grade Walls – The base assembly consists of individual units (such as clay brick, concrete units) laid in and bound together. The exterior finish is brick or stone. Note: this is the only selection that may be assigned to Below Ground Blocks.


Thermal Properties – Pull-down menu selections:

I don't know – The insulation level will be inferred based on the building type, age, location, roof type, and intended occupancy type.

C Factor – Represents the thermal conductivity of the wall assembly without inclusion of the soil or air film thermal resistance. The C-factor calculation uses the mass wall assembly U-factor calculation of an exterior wall, with the air film thermal resistance subtracted. C Factors are given in units of Btu/°F*ft2*h. This selection is only available if Brick/Stone on Masonry - Below Grade Walls is selected for the Wall Type.

Insulation R-value – Measure of thermal resistance: the reciprocal of the time rate of heat flow through a unit area induced by a unit temperature difference between two defined surfaces of material or construction under steady-state conditions. R-values are given in units of ft2*°F*h/Btu

Insulation Thickness – Thickness of insulating material used in units of inches

Assembly U-value – Measure of thermal transmittance per unit time per unit area of the wall material and the boundary air films, induced by unit temperature difference between the environments on each side. U-value is inverse of R-value: U-values are given in units of Btu/ft2*°F*h


Intended Occupancy Type – Available if 'I don't know' is selected for Thermal Properties. Pull-down menu selections include: Non-Residential, Residential, and Semiheated.