Building Energy Modelling Essentials

The Building Energy Modelling Essentials course is a perfect starting point for those who wish to become familiar with modelling concepts and demonstrate compliance with the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB).

This one-day course provides an overview of the requirements of the NECB and descriptions of the three compliance paths (prescriptive, trade-off, and performance). For a more extensive NECB course, see Working with the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB). During the training, participants examine a case study model of a commercial building to learn about the details included in models and the factors that ensure a successful and compliant energy model, a process that covers basic modelling principles. Additionally, this course serves to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different energy modelling software.

EnergyPlus is a powerful energy modelling software tool used to support the design of high-performance commercial and institutional buildings. It is also used to assess and demonstrate performance path compliance with the NECB. 

In this course, you will learn to

• Navigate viable NECB compliance paths. 
• Discern when energy modelling is applied and how it helps meet energy project goals. 
• Produce a compliance report. 
• Review the major components of a building energy model (envelope, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, service water heating, central plant) and where this information is typically found. 
• Discern the roles of a reference building. 
• Apply the factors that constitute a successful energy model. 

This course is ideal for

• New energy modellers 
• Energy consultants 
• Program administrators 
• Compliance reviewers 
• Code officials 
• Those who hire energy modellers (e.g. architects)