LEED Energy Simulation
LEED Energy Simulation
Sustainability consultancies running LEED projects who want the simulation built once, documented properly, and cleared on first review. Architects whose client has committed to LEED Gold or Platinum and who do not want an energy modeller on the payroll. Real estate developers who need the certification on the schedule the lender expects. Design firms whose internal simulation team is at capacity and who need a white label partner that does not embarrass them.
What we deliver.
Our LEED Energy Modelling Process
3D Building Geometry
AutoCAD polylines converted to DXF and imported to DesignBuilder. Geometry organised by floor and space type.
Lighting Load Calculation
LPD computed from the lighting plan or the Dialux report. Proposed and baseline both modelled.
HVAC Understanding
Mechanical schedule reviewed end to end. AHU to zone mapping logged. Fresh airflow per person and per area documented to ASHRAE 62.1. Per room airflow recorded.
Proposed & Baseline Modelling Setup
Proposed case: Space templates per ASHRAE 90.1 (2010 or 2016 per LEED version), actual lighting wattages, consistent operational hours, detailed HVAC system & fan efficiency. Baseline case: ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G & Section G3.1.1, lighting controls per Section 9.4, baseline fan power within allowed limits.
Simulation Run
Unmet hours rectified. ABUPS reviewed. End use breakdown interrogated where any single end use looks unexpected.
LEED Energy Simulation Report
Same template every time. Includes: list of contents, list of figures, list of tables, software validation statement, construction details, internal gains, HVAC network (proposed & baseline), results.
MEPC Filed
All required modelling files and documents organised and submitted.
USGBC Review Comments Rectified
All review comments addressed.
Final Delivery
Model modified, report updated, and response narratives written in the language the reviewer expects.
- 3D building geometry. AutoCAD polylines converted to DXF, imported to DesignBuilder, geometry organised by floor and space type.
- Lighting load calculation. LPD computed from the lighting plan or the Dialux report. Proposed and baseline both modelled.
- HVAC understanding. Mechanical schedule reviewed end to end. AHU to zone mapping logged. Fresh airflow per person and per area documented to ASHRAE 62.1. Per room airflow recorded.
- Proposed case. Space templates assigned per ASHRAE 90.1-2010 or 90.1-2016, depending on the LEED version. Lighting templates with actual wattages. Operational hours consistent across lighting, HVAC and occupancy. Detailed HVAC system assigned and fan efficiency tuned.
- Baseline case. Built per ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G. Baseline HVAC system selected per Section G3.1.1. Lighting controls per Section 9.4. Baseline fan power within allowed limits.
- Simulation run. Unmet hours rectified. ABUPS reviewed. End use breakdown interrogated where any single end use looks unexpected.
- LEED Energy Simulation Report. Same template every time. List of contents, list of figures, list of tables, software validation statement, construction details, internal gains, HVAC network proposed and baseline, results.
- MEPC filed.
- USGBC review comments rectified. Model modified, report updated, response narratives written in the language the reviewer expects.
Why consultancies retain us for LEED
- Specific Appendix G depth. We have modelled Appendix G baselines for hotels, hospitals, offices, residential, mixed use, data centers, schools, factories and warehouses. The defaults break in different places for different typologies. We know which to override.
- USGBC review comments handled. We have responded to the same comment families across years of submissions. From U value and frame inclusion to space by space LPD method to baseline fan power corrections to outdoor airflow reconciliation. The Comment Library on the USGBC Rectification page documents the recurring ones.
- DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus fluency. Industry standard stack. ASHRAE 140-2004 validated. When a non native HVAC system needs to be modelled, we adjust native equivalents to closely match the proposed performance instead of returning the project to the design team.
- Audit ready documentation. The same template, the same construction schedule structure, the same internal gains breakdown, every project.
- Senior simulation specialist on every project. Never handed off to a junior modeller. The person reading the mechanical schedule is the person filing the MEPC.
When the comments come back
Most outsource simulation partners hand the file over and stop. We do not. If USGBC comes back with preliminary review comments on the model we built, we rectify and resubmit. If USGBC comes back with comments on a model someone else built and you need help, we have a dedicated service for that.
Scope and indicative fee
Most LEED Energy Simulation engagements scope to 10 to 15 working days for a single project. Simpler typologies, warehouses, open offices, small commercial, sit at the lower end. Complex typologies, hospitals, large hotels, mixed use, high rise residential with 500 plus zones, sit higher because the unmet hour rectification time alone can extend the timeline. We confirm scope and fee in writing within 24 hours of receiving your project documents.
See what we hand over.
A 12 page anonymised LEED energy simulation report. Same template we deliver on real engagements. You will see the construction schedule structure, the ABUPS breakdown, the Appendix G baseline approach, and the documentation discipline that gets a model through review.
FAQ
Typically 2 to 4 weeks depending on scope and zone count. We confirm scope in writing within 1–2 weeks of receiving the drawings.
Simpler typologies start at the lower fee tier. Complex projects sit higher because unmet hour rectification extends the timeline. We quote on confirmed scope after we read your documents.
We file the MEPC, we respond to preliminary review comments, and we modify the model as required. We have answered the recurring USGBC comment families across years of submissions.
DesignBuilder running on the EnergyPlus engine. ASHRAE 140-2004 validated. One Click LCA for life cycle assessment.
Yes. NDA default. Deliverables in your template, your branding, the language your reviewer expects. Standard MNDA available on the For Design Firms page.
LEED v4, v4.1 and v5.
