How does the scope of energy modeling change to better support the integrated design process? This is a question that leading designers and NEEA’s BetterBricks have been grappling to answer. We have been promoting an integrated design approach that emphasizes the synthesis of energy efficient solutions from opportunities related to climate, use, design, and systems. And a regular question that comes up when describing this process is — How should the scope of energy modeling be defined to better support integrated design?

In effect, this model of integrated design suggests both an expanded performance modeling scope and an energy engineering role, a project team function championing and directly supporting energy performance. Activities of both functions are described in the new BetterBricks publication Integrating Energy Engineering & Performance Modeling into the Design Process [PDF], authored by Jeff Cole, Konstrukt and Mike Hatten, Solarc Engineering and Architecture, Inc. The tool maps very specific analytic, design, and synthetic activities and questions to consider across the integrated design framework as it evolves from one design phase to another during the project schedule.

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