Building Design and Evaluation

Using energy modeling software like EnergyPlus ensures commercial buildings are designed to be as energy-efficient as possible.

A commercial building's design and ongoing monitoring are critical to achieving optimal energy, economic, and environmental performance. Here you will find key steps, along with tools and information, to design an energy-efficient and net-zero energy commercial building and assess its performance.

Assemble an integrated team that includes designers, architects, contractors, engineers, users of the building, and building maintenance staff.
Use whole building design techniques that consider all building components and systems during the design phase. To start the design process, hold a charrette with the entire team.
Set specific, measurable goals for the project's energy use. Visit a database with case studies of high-performance buildings and review commercial building benchmark models to understand energy use and design of similar buildings. Also, review energy use intensities and consumption tables (PDF 58 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Special note: If you are designing a net-zero energy building, review net-zero energy building projects and determine which net-zero energy definition to achieve.
Refer to guides, such as the Advanced Energy Design Guides, for pre-computed suggestions to achieve 30% energy savings in certain building types.
Develop an energy model of the building using simulation software. Modeling helps in making critical decisions about a building's design early in the process. Commercial building benchmark models can be used as starting points with simulation software.
Plan to commission the building and train maintenance staff and occupants on energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.
Use standardized performance metrics to help measure, report, and evaluate energy performance.
Share the success of your project by entering a case study in the High Performance Buildings Database.