Cooling Load Calculation Example. To calculate the estimated HVAC load for a house with 2,500 square feet, 12 windows, and 3 exterior doors occupied by 4 people, simply plug it into this formula: 2,500 x 25 = 62,500 base BTU. 4 people x 400 = 1,600. 12 windows x 1,000 = 12,000. 3 exterior doors x 1,000 = 3,000.