© 2023 All rights reserved to TST. Design by HIGH5
It is a virtual model of a building's energy performance, using specialized software (e.g., eQuest, EnergyPlus, IES-VE). It takes into account: the building envelope, HVAC systems, lighting, internal loads, and climatic conditions. Its objective is to model the energy consumption of the building's various uses under typical operating conditions, to understand its behavior and to guide designers and project owners in the building's design, whether for a new construction or renovation project.
In recent years, Quebec has modernized its building energy efficiency requirements. The gradual implementation of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) 2020, adapted for Quebec, marks a significant step in this transition.
These new requirements apply to commercial, institutional, industrial, and larger residential buildings. They apply to new constructions and expansions, and promote an integrated design approach where energy performance is considered from the earliest stages of design.
The impact of this regulatory evolution is significant: buildings designed according to these new standards show an average improvement of nearly 30% in their energy performance compared to previous requirements. Across Quebec, this represents the energy equivalent of 70,000 new homes and a reduction of approximately 18,000 cars on the roads by 2030.
Chapter I.1 of the Quebec Construction Code, which incorporates the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), defines three methods for demonstrating a project's energy compliance. These approaches offer varying degrees of flexibility depending on the designer's objectives, the building's complexity, and the desired performance level.
This is the simplest and most direct approach. It adheres to a series of specific requirements outlined in the code (insulation thickness, glazing performance, equipment efficiency, etc.). If each element meets the prescribed values, the building is compliant.
→ No energy simulation is required, as compliance is based on literal adherence to the requirements.
This approach allows for the use of a measure or technology different from what is prescribed, provided it can be demonstrated that it offers equivalent or superior performance.
→ An equivalence calculation can be used to justify the equivalent performance of a non-standard solution, for example, when trading off fenestration ratio and envelope performance.
This is the most flexible and comprehensive approach. It considers the overall energy performance of the building. The design must demonstrate, using dynamic energy simulation, that the building will consume as much or less energy than a reference building compliant with prescriptive requirements.
→ Energy simulation therefore becomes essential and mandatory to quantify the project's overall performance, compare scenarios, and optimize design choices.
The energy performance compliance method, corresponding to Part 8 of the QCC, Chapter I.1, allows designers to offset energy penalties generated by building components that do not meet the Code's prescriptive requirements. These offsets are achieved through the enhanced performance of one or more other components of the same building.
Energy simulation provides added value throughout a project's lifecycle, from design to certification.
From the design stage, simulation becomes a decision-making tool. By comparing different envelope configurations, mechanical systems, or lighting strategies, it identifies the most efficient and cost-effective solutions. It also supports strategies for comfort, energy efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction.
It allows for precise estimation of a building's energy consumption even before construction. This data helps evaluate future operating costs and guide design choices based on the total cost of ownership (CAPEX + OPEX). In many cases, a higher initial investment can prove more cost-effective in the long run due to substantial energy savings.
An optimized design, supported by simulation, directly results in more efficient and less expensive buildings to operate. Well-sized systems, appropriate insulation, and high-performance ventilation contribute to reducing energy consumption and stabilizing expenses over the building's lifespan.
Simulation plays a key role in environmental certification processes. It is required or highly recommended for programs such as LEED or Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), as it provides the necessary data to demonstrate the project's energy performance.
Finally, beyond regulatory requirements, energy simulation plays a central role in accessing financial incentive programs offered by various organizations, such as Hydro-Québec, Énergir, ÉcoPerformance, or CMHC.
These programs encourage the design of higher-performing buildings by subsidizing energy efficiency measures integrated into the project (envelope, lighting, mechanical systems, etc.). To determine the amount of assistance, developers must demonstrate the potential energy savings of their building compared to a code-compliant reference building. This is where energy simulation becomes indispensable: it objectively quantifies energy gains, validates the eligibility of proposed measures, and optimizes the design strategy to maximize subsidies.
Simulation is not infallible. Its reliability depends on the assumptions made, the quality of the input data, the timing of its execution, and the experience of the team conducting it. A very detailed model can require significant time and resources, and if occupancy data or system parameters do not reflect reality, the results may deviate from actual consumption. That's why it's essential to make the results accessible, produce a concise report, and present conclusions in a way that guides decision-making rather than creating blind faith in the numbers.
Certain practices allow for making the most of simulation: integrating it from the conceptual phase, conducting parametric analyses to explore multiple scenarios, performing simple checks or empirical comparisons to validate trends, and planning for in-operation calibration to adjust the model with actual building data.
Energy simulation is not an exact science, but a planning tool to optimize building energy performance from the earliest design phases. It does not aim to model a building's actual consumption with high precision, but rather to quantify performance differences between various design scenarios to guide decisions toward the most efficient solutions.
In summary, energy simulation is a powerful strategic lever — provided it is considered a tool for dialogue and informed decision-making throughout the building's lifecycle.
Contact our team today to design a sustainable, high-performance building tailored to your objectives: info@tst-inc.ca
