Visioning session
Session duration: 1 – 2 hours
We’ll meet with your project lead, sustainability manager and a design team member to help define your project requirements and sustainability priorities.
Frequently asked questions about energy modelling
Live energy modelling is a cornerstone of the free Savings by Design program. Participants provide preliminary project drawings and multi-disciplinary industry experts help your project team optimize design choices during a full-day Integrated Design Process workshop. Here, Pratus Group’s Oleksandra Onisko answers top questions about energy modelling for those new to the process.
Highlights
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Pratus Group’s Oleksandra Onisko answers questions about energy modelling for those new to the process.
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Savings by Design program participants provide preliminary project drawings and multi-disciplinary industry experts help your project team optimize design choices during a full-day Integrated Design Process workshop.
Q: Energy modelling typically costs thousands of dollars. Do we really need it?
A: Yes! With the Savings by Design program, the cost of preliminary energy modelling services is covered by Enbridge Gas.
There’s tremendous financial benefit, in terms of cost avoidance, in evaluating design options early. We’ve seen projects that have foregone energy modelling only to realize at the building permit stage or later that mandatory targets are not being met. Using energy modelling at the conceptual and schematic phases helps avoid these costly redesign scenarios.
Q: Energy modelling is complex and detailed. How can I get what I need from it?
A: The key is to engage the right experts and set your targets early on in the project. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping people solve problems and meet their performance targets. During the workshop, we break down in simple terms the energy, greenhouse gas emissions and utility cost impact of different energy conservation measures (ECM). Examples of ECMs include improved windows, increased insulation and thermally broken balconies. By analyzing and testing ECM options with real-time energy modelling, we provide data that project teams can actually use to make informed decisions. Following the workshop, participants also get a summary report to take home.
Q: Do only big firms and high-rise projects need energy modelling?
A: Any new construction project can benefit from simulations and collaborative design from the early stages. For many projects, it’s rare to have everyone who influences energy consumption in the same room. The workshop provides a really unique level of collaboration.
Q: Ontario’s Building Code is already high performance. Isn’t building to code enough?
A: Our code is certainly more efficient than it was 10 years ago but it’s not enough to get us to our carbon reduction targets, provincially and federally. Reaching those targets requires increasing stringency of our codes and standards coupled with incentive programs that encourage and motivate higher levels of energy efficiency in our buildings.
