As technology advances, building energy modelling (BEM) becomes a really valuable tool. According to statistics presented by the National Institute of Building Sciences, the demand for high-performing and energy-efficient buildings is continually on the rise. This brings us to early-stage energy modelling. With energy modelling, you will be able to have an estimate of the total energy consumption of a building and assess its potential energy savings. However, what exactly are the benefits when energy modelling is done early on?
Energy Modeling
Before we talk about early-stage energy modelling benefits, let’s first have a quick overview of what energy modelling is.
Energy modelling is basically a process used to estimate the possible energy expenditure of a building by factoring in its mechanical systems, construction materials, specific site characteristics, average local climate conditions, and expected occupant requirements. It’s used to evaluate how various systems within a building interact.
Through energy use estimates, energy modelling will be able to determine the best system integration possible. As a result, designers can come up with strategies that will help a building enhance its overall system performance.
Before the introduction of building energy modelling software, energy modelling used to be a complicated and time-consuming process without any significant cost savings on projects both small and large.
Why does energy modelling matter?
A common misconception regarding energy modelling is that energy models are used only by engineers as a means of viewing energy statistics and code compliance. However, this might have been true before the US Green Building Council was established. Prior to that, mechanical engineers used modelling techniques as a means of determining a building’s performance characteristics as well as its cooling and heating loads. Nowadays, however, BEM tools are being used by architects as well. Instead of just focusing on HVAC systems, designers can use the tool to evaluate the various components of a building, such as air conditioning usage, access to daylight, and more.
That being said, energy modelling is capable of providing the following benefits:
- Engineers and architects alike can set specific energy-efficiency goals for their clients
- It can be used to help projects obtain LEED certification
- It’s possible to measure specific HVAC and lighting usage, which, in turn, can satisfy LEED requirements in those fields
- Design professionals will be able to estimate a building’s future energy usage and cost.
While energy modelling comes with these benefits, doing it early on in the building design process can actually be a lot more advantageous for a number of reasons. Ideally, the process of energy modelling should be implemented at a project’s earliest stages, and here are the reasons why:
- It makes achieving energy efficiency and LEED certification goals a lot easier
- When done during the pre-design phase, a building project can achieve up to 45% energy savings on average as opposed to a baseline building
- Designers can decide which systems and components to instal as a means of optimising a building’s energy efficiency.
- If the project owner is considering solar power or any other generation technology, the results of energy modelling can be used to optimise capacity.
- Various delays, risks, and setbacks can be addressed in advance, thereby eliminating the need for a redesign later on.
A lot of experts tend to view energy modelling as both art and science. Beyond just choosing the right modelling software, the skills of a licenced engineer or architect are paramount in order to make full use of energy modelling. While modelling software is deemed the principal tool in energy modelling, it will be up to the skills and experience of the design professional you choose.