The advent of machine learning in the energy sector has the potential to bring a golden age for building energy modelers. Imagine being able to generate building geometry from a PDF, or calibrate a model as easily as using the solver function in Excel? Imagine running a pre-simulation that approximates results in real time. These things are already possible and being done on small scale. We just need the right people to step up and develop such tools and offer them open-source or at reasonable prices.

But who will develop the AI tools? And why?

Well, several stakeholders are perhaps unknowingly sitting atop AI gold mines. This series of blog posts aims to assist companies...

Recently, someone used ChatGPT to create 10 Energy Modeling jokes and challenged someone to create better jokes

As the funniest person in the industry, definitely the only instructor with a sense of humor, I am obligated to accept the challenge.

For years, I have collected memes regarding energy modeling and performance design. I will start sharing them if this gets enough views.

In one case study, building commissioning saved a building owner 36% on an annual energy bill of $550,000. large commercial building in a major metropolitan area. The building was constructed in the 1980s and had not undergone any significant upgrades since then. The building owner was interested in reducing energy costs and improving tenant comfort, so they hired a commissioning agent to evaluate the building's systems.

The commissioning agent discovered several issues with the building's HVAC system, including air leaks and improperly calibrated controls. Additionally, the building's lighting system was outdated and inefficient, with many bulbs burnt out or dim. The agent recommended several upgrades to the building's systems...

Building commissioning is a process that ensures that all building systems are designed, installed, and functioning according to their intended purposes. This process plays a crucial role in ensuring that buildings operate efficiently and sustainably, which ultimately saves money and energy. In this blog, we will use a few simple examples to illustrate the various reasons why building commissioning saves money and energy (and safety, and, and...)

(Sidenote: Try to find a commissioning agent based on a referral. You don't just want a box checker!)

One of the primary ways that building commissioning saves money and energy is by identifying and correcting design and installation issues early on before the...