If you are reading this, it is likely you clicked a link from our email series explaining energy modeling and it's benefits. Specifically, the email "How does Energy modeling save energy?"

In this case, R-50 insulation used more energy than R-25 in a building in Denver, Colorado.

The main issue was that the R-25 building did not need heating or cooling for most hours when the outdoor air temperature was between 50 and 67 degrees. The building with the extra insulation, on the other hand, did not need heating or cooling between 50 and 58 degrees (the sweet spot was half the size when adding the extra insulation).

In this example, R-50 used MORE energy than R-25. Here's why:

The extra insulation did save...

Has anyone else noticed that the last few months have brought some interesting new trends to the industry? This has also been evident given the inquiries here at Energy-models.com. (I should probably follow up on some of the trends that are changing in the building simulation community- yes, I am a data nerd). While our typical support request is usually a request to rectify some error or anomaly, the last few months have seen a slight change. Our number 1 inquiry has been for “taking over” an existing project, and we have simply not been able to accommodate these requests. We have tried to help where we can, which has often meant sending someone a referral. The trouble is that we only know so many people who we feel confident in...

I read an article a few years back about how energy-modeling was inaccurate. I disagreed with a lot of the articles premise, but not the energy-nerd’s conclusion. The article failed to specify that they were talking about residential energy modeling, which I thought was a cheap shot, because it is easier to miss the mark on poorly controlled buildings. My biggest problem with the article was that it blamed the software. I have a saying:  If you want to blame the software, please consult a mirror first.

The software packages are not the main problem. Not even close. Barking up that tree is the calling card of someone who just wants to bitch about energy-...

The Steinbach Credit Union built a new 45,000 square foot, 3 story office building in Winnipeg, MB in 2009. The building featured a number of energy efficiency features, including high insulation values, efficient lighting, a green roof and a ground coupled heat pump (GCHP) system that uses the earth under the parking lot as its energy source.

If you’ve been in Winnipeg in January, you’ll have an appreciation for winter. Our winter design temperature is -28 F (-33 C), with extreme temperatures occasionally dropping below -40. This winter, as anyone in North America knows, the Polar Vortex blessed us with the coldest winter on record. We had 25 days when the temperature didn't get above -20 F in December and January.

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