What role does energy modeling play in design development?

• A. It evaluates performance and efficiency of strategies (glazing, insulation, HVAC) to meet code and sustainability goals and inform decisions.
• B. It calculates only monthly energy bills.
• C. It determines the HVAC equipment sizing alone.
• D. It is not used in PDD.

Answer: (A)

Energy modeling in design development predicts how design decisions affect the building’s energy use and system performance, so you can compare options and steer the project toward code compliance and sustainability goals. It evaluates how strategies like glazing choices and shading, insulation levels, envelope tightness, HVAC system options, and lighting controls perform together, producing estimates of annual energy use, peak loads, and potential cost savings. This information guides design decisions and tradeoffs, helping optimize overall energy performance. It goes beyond simply calculating monthly bills or sizing HVAC equipment in isolation; it integrates envelope performance, mechanical systems, and operation to demonstrate how the design meets targets and codes.