Case Study: Regional Technical Forum achieves regionally calibrated commercial building simulations with Resource Innovations

How Can Regional Data Improve the Accuracy of Commercial Building Simulations

The Regional Technical Forum (RTF) needed building energy simulations that accurately represent real-world commercial buildings to evaluate regional energy savings. To meet this challenge, the RTF engaged Resource Innovations’ Advisory Services team (formerly the Cadeo Group) and used Modelkit Flannel, an EnergyPlus‑based parametric analysis tool, to align 10 commercial building prototypes to regional billing and metering data from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

Resource Innovations created monthly, weather‑normalized target energy use intensity (EUI) curves from CBSA (and RBSA/HEMS for multifamily) and iteratively adjusted prototype inputs in Modelkit Flannel until simulation outputs matched gas and electric target curves. RI aligned 27 prototype/HVAC combinations and produced calibrated models within 90% confidence acceptance ranges, giving the RTF calibrated commercial prototypes it can now use to estimate regional energy savings and develop efficiency measures (final workbook and presentation available on the RTF website).

Regional Technical Forum