ASHRAE publishes new energy simulation-aided design standard

ASHRAE recently released a new standard describing a methodology to apply building energy modeling throughout the design process.

ASHRAE Standard 209-2018, Energy Simulation Aided Design for Buildings except Low Rise Residential Buildings, defines minimum requirements for energy design assistance using building energy simulation and analysis. The standard defines consistent energy modeling procedures to analyze the impact of design decisions.

To comply with the standard, building project teams must evaluate energy-efficiency options using modeling during schematic design. “For many buildings, energy modeling is typically employed only near the end of the design process to determine if a building meets minimum requirements for energy-efficient design, outlined in Standard 90.1,” said Jason Glazer, chair of the Standard 209 committee.

“Standard 209-2018 requires building energy modeling earlier in the design process, so the information it provides will more effectively inform design decisions and result in higher performing buildings,” Glazer said.

This new standard will be useful to building owners, architects, government agencies and many others who want their projects to benefit from the use of simulation, ASHRAE said in a news release. The standard also describes analysis activities from early concept development to post-occupancy.