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Performance pathEnergy code compliance by simulation
A whole-building energy model compares your design with the code's baseline building. If the proposed design comes in at or under the code's target, the building complies, even when individual components would fail the prescriptive tables. We build that model, document it for the plan reviewer and stay on until the permit is issued.
How we work with MEP engineers, architects, owners and contractors
When the performance path makes sense
Most small, simple buildings pass prescriptively and don't need a model. The performance path pays for itself when one part of the design can't meet its limit and the rest of the building can make up the difference.
Not sure which side you're on? Send the envelope and HVAC basics and we'll tell you before you spend anything.
- Window-to-wall ratio above the prescriptive limitTypically 30 to 40 percent of gross wall area, depending on the code edition.
- Envelope assemblies that miss a U-factor or R-valueSteel-stud walls, slab edges, curtain wall spandrels.
- HVAC systems the prescriptive tables handle poorlyVRF, heat pumps with electric backup, dedicated outdoor air, process-heavy ventilation.
- Required on-site solarSuch as the on-site renewable energy requirement in the 2024 IECC, when the roof or site can't support the array or the owner would rather invest elsewhere.
- Additions and alterations that tie into existing systems
- Projects already modeling for LEEDOne model can carry both code compliance and the LEED energy credit.
Which performance path we use
Your jurisdiction's adopted code decides the method. We confirm it with the building department before modeling starts.
| Method | Where it comes from | Passes when | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Rating Method 90.1 Appendix G |
ASHRAE 90.1-2016 and later, adopted directly or through the IECC | Proposed Performance Cost Index (PCI) at or below the PCI target | Most new construction, and any project also pursuing LEED |
| Energy Cost Budget 90.1 Section 11 |
ASHRAE 90.1, common where older editions are still in force | Design energy cost at or below the energy cost budget | Jurisdictions on earlier 90.1 editions |
| Total Building Performance IECC C407 |
IECC commercial provisions and state codes based on them | Proposed design annual energy cost meets the code's limit relative to the standard reference design | Projects permitted under the IECC rather than 90.1 |
State amendments change the details: the target, the utility rates and sometimes the required software. Tell us where the project is and we'll confirm the exact method.
A complete package, ready to stamp
- Every compliance document completedReady for your designer of record to review, stamp and submit.
- Compliance report in the format the reviewer expectsSummary result, baseline and proposed inputs side by side, energy by end use.
- Model input and output reports
- Mandatory-provision checklist for envelope, HVAC, lighting and power
- Construction-document notes for the items the model depends on
- Written responses to plan-review comments, included in the fee
- The native model files, yours to keep
Low cost doesn't mean shortcuts
- Baseline built strictly to the code's rulesSystem type, envelope, fan power and schedules follow the method, not a template.
- Every input traced to a drawing or schedule sheet
- Unmet load hours and sizing checked before results are reported
- Second-person QA review of inputs on every project
- EnergyPlus-based simulation engine accepted by reviewers and LEED
From drawings to permit
- Day 0
Send what you have
Floor plans, wall sections, window schedule and mechanical and lighting schedules. Design development drawings are enough to start.
- 1 business day
Fixed-fee quote
Scope, price and schedule in writing. No hourly billing, no surprise change orders for normal design iteration.
- 1 week
Preliminary model and result
You see the PCI or cost result and the end uses that drive it, so problems surface while there's time to fix them.
- 2 days
Options if the margin is thin
Targeted runs that show the cheapest way to comply: a better chiller, lower lighting power, a different glazing spec.
- With permit set
Package ready to stamp
Final model updated to the permit set and every compliance document completed. Your designer of record reviews the package, stamps it and submits it with the permit.
- Included
Plan-review responses
We answer the reviewer's comments and revise the model if needed until the energy portion is approved.
Fixed fees, published up front
Price depends on building size, the number of HVAC system types and how many space types need separate treatment. Most projects fall into one of these.
Focused
Up to 25,000 ft², one or two HVAC system types
$5,000 starting
- Single code path
- Compliance report and checklist
- Plan-review responses
Standard
Up to 100,000 ft², up to four HVAC system types
$8,000 starting
- Everything in Focused
- Up to three design-option runs
- LEED energy credit documentation available as an add-on
Complex
Labs, healthcare, central plants, campuses, heavy process loads
Quoted per project
- Everything in Standard
- Exceptional calculation methods where needed
- Coordination with the commissioning agent
Why the fee is lower: we don't stamp
We complete every compliance document. Your designer of record, the architect or engineer already responsible for the project, reviews the package and stamps it.
A lower fee
A stamp brings liability and insurance costs that get priced into a fee. The designer of record already carries that responsibility for the project, so we don't charge for it twice.
An independent look
We aren't part of the design team, so we model what's on the drawings without a stake in defending any design decision.
A second check
The designer of record reviews our work before stamping it, which adds a layer of quality control to every submission.
Fees cover one complete compliance submission and responses to plan-review comments. Major design changes after the preliminary result, such as a new HVAC system type, are quoted before any extra work starts.
Common questions
Is the performance path more expensive than prescriptive compliance?
The modeling fee is higher than filling out a prescriptive form. It's usually far less than the upgrades the prescriptive path would force, such as extra insulation, triple glazing or a bigger mechanical system. If prescriptive compliance is cheaper for your project, we'll say so.
Do you stamp the compliance documents?
No. We complete all of the compliance documents, and the project's designer of record reviews and stamps them. That keeps our fee low, keeps us independent of the design, and puts a second set of expert eyes on every submission.
How early should we bring you in?
Design development is ideal. The envelope and system types are known, and there's still time to act on the result. We can also work from permit drawings when the schedule is tight.
What do you need from the design team?
Architectural plans and sections, the window and door schedule, the mechanical equipment schedule and controls sequence, and the lighting fixture schedule. We send a short checklist with the quote.
Can the same model be used for LEED?
Yes. LEED uses ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G, so when the code path is also Appendix G, most of the work carries over. We price the LEED documentation as an add-on rather than a second model.
What if the design doesn't comply?
You'll know at the preliminary result, not at permit submission. We run targeted options and recommend the lowest-cost changes that close the gap.
Have a project heading to permit?
Send the basics. You'll have a fixed fee within one business day.