Career Profile: Three Energy Modelling Specialists Share Their Experience

In your opinion, what makes a building energy modeller?

An energy modeler provides the alternative solution for a builder who would like to build outside the parameter’s norm. Building construction is one of the most complicated industries, and following the strict Building Code’s energy efficiency prescriptions is not always possible or desirable. Also, building beyond the minimum code requirement has become a very effective way to differentiate yourself as an energy efficiency leader in this environmentally conscious market. An energy modeller can help make all that possible!   

How can energy modelling contribute to buildings with lower energy and GHG emissions?

There are many different claims about products and practices out there that present themselves as the best solution to lowering energy consumption and GHG emissions. And, to most people, there is no way of knowing what to believe and what not to. Energy modelling can do that by using approved software to calculate the building envelope, electrical, and mechanical systems, against an assigned weather zone to simulate real life performance annually, monthly, or even hourly. Builders/clients can make informative decision and choose the right products or approach for construction by analyzing the results data.

Can you tell us about a building energy modelling project that had a significant impact on an organization or jurisdiction?

At the start of my career back in 2008, I was fortunate enough to be involved in a very special project: a LEED Platinum subdivision of 34 homes in Newmarket, Ontario. It was the first of its kind in Canada at the time, and it has paved the way for many other energy efficiency projects since then. One of the many highlights was the reduction in its annual energy and GHG consumptions, when compared with the 1997 Ontario Bulding Code, of 70% on average. The achievement was a result of collaboration of many stakeholders and building industry professionals, countless site visits and testing and, of course, energy modelling to generate the official data for the LEED submissions.

In your opinion, what are the best tools for building energy modelling (software and others)?

I use eQUESTfor all big buildings (Part 3), commercial and residential, and REM/Rate™ for small Part 9 buildings. I find them to be very user-friendly, constantly updated to keep up with the industry standard, and inexpensive to purchase.

In your opinion, what makes a building energy modeller?

A building energy modeller assists building owners and design teams with optimizing their architectural, mechanical, and electrical designs to maximize a building’s energy performance. Energy modellers have a strong technical background and can work as a team with all project stakeholders throughout the design, construction, and operation of a project to ensure an optimal balance of energy and GHG savings with associated upgrade costs.

How can energy modelling contribute to buildings with lower energy and GHG emissions?

Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) can easily be assessed through energy modelling, enabling new and existing buildings to target mandated and/or voluntary energy and GHG reduction targets.

Can you tell us about a building energy modelling project that had a significant impact on an organization or jurisdiction?

I have had the opportunity to work with many design teams that strive to provide buildings to work, play, and live in that exceed mandatory energy requirements. High-performing buildings provide financial rebates, marketability, lower operating costs, and occupant comfort. These benefits affect all project stakeholders, from the building owner/developer to the occupants.

In your opinion, what are the best tools for building energy modelling (software and others)?

Software allows energy modellers to conduct efficient and accurate design assessments and energy consumption calibration. This includes industry-leading programs such as Integrated Environmental Solutions-Virtual Environment (IES-VE), eQUEST, and RETScreen Expert.

In your opinion, what makes a building energy modeller?

To be a good energy modeller, you need to live "on the shoulders". Design engineers are most concerned with peak conditions (hottest or coolest day of the year), as these are the conditions upon which HVAC equipment (boilers, chillers, fluid coolers, fans, and pumps) needs to be sized and selected. However, peak conditions represent a very small percentage of total annual operating hours, if they occur at all. The majority of the year can be considered the shoulder seasons. Design engineers have the "luxury" to largely ignore the shoulder season. For the energy modeller, it is CRUCIAL. What happens on a mild day in November? Or a hot day in March? That's what I want to know!

How can energy modelling contribute to buildings with lower energy and GHG emissions?

There is a common saying in energy management that "what gets measured gets managed". But what if the building does not yet exist? Or what if the Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) has not yet been implemented? In those cases, I would also suggest that "what gets modelled gets managed"! With increasingly stringent energy, demand, and GHG emissions targets from municipalities (Toronto Green Standard, Vancouver Step Code) and provinces (OBC SB-10, ABC) across Canada, project teams are increasingly turning to energy modelling to demonstrate compliance.

The statistician George Box once said that "all models are wrong, but some are useful", which certainly applies to energy modelling. A good energy model can be an invaluable asset to a design team, allowing the team to review design options ahead of time, with energy/demand/GHG performance becoming key design criteria to be considered alongside other criteria such as structural integrity, thermal comfort, functional performance, etc. But a bad energy model can just as easily lead you astray.

Can you tell us about a building energy modelling project that had a significant impact on an organization or jurisdiction?

On some projects, the energy model is a mere formality. The energy modeller is brought in well after critical design decisions have been made and asked to "make it comply". Not only is this ungratifying work, but it is also ineffective. On the other hand, there are projects that highly value the energy model and treat the energy modeller as a key design professional and team member. The Eglinton Crosstown light rail line was in the latter category. This Public-Private Partnership (P3) had firm energy targets that needed to be established during the project RFP stage. Thus, energy was considered a critical design factor from the earliest stages.

My team at MCW Consultants Ltd. was hired by Crosslinx Transit Solutions to develop the detailed energy models of all line stations, the maintenance & storage facility, and all lineside equipment. This is an example of a project where energy modelling went far beyond compliance. The energy models were used to drive decision making on key factors. For example, the models revealed that the design of the HVAC concept was inefficient and ineffective with high energy usage and unstable temperatures in many spaces. This modelling exercise led to a fundamental change in the design of all stations to make it more energy-efficient with much tighter temperature control. And since our team was very highly integrated with the design-construction teams, we were also able to determine that the revised design concept would in fact be cheaper and more space-effective.

In your opinion, what are the best tools for building energy modelling (software and others)?

There is an embarrassment of riches for today's energy modeller, with so many amazing, powerful tools to choose from. Integrated Environmental Solutions-Virtual Environment (IES-VE) is the energy modelling software which I am most familiar and comfortable with for whole-building energy performance simulation. It allows for enhanced collaboration between designers and modellers who have traditionally operated in a very siloed manner. In addition, the VE lets you model buildings that are inefficient, i.e. real buildings. The importance of this cannot be understated, as it allows the energy modeller to quantify the opportunity in correcting these building behaviours. And as mentioned previously, what gets modelled gets managed!