Fully online technical training designed around real industry demand, so you can specialize at your own pace.
10/31/2026
Start Date
2 months
Duration
100
Total Hours
6 Modules
Program
Duration
Total Hours
Program
Start Date
ICTESS’s Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course trains specialists in building energy simulation with the industry’s leading tools. The program runs from building the geometric model to producing professional reports for code compliance, green building certification and energy consulting.
You will learn the modeling procedures used on real energy efficiency projects: defining thermal zones and the envelope, characterizing internal loads, configuring HVAC systems, running hourly simulations with the EnergyPlus engine, calibrating models with metered data, and analyzing improvement scenarios through sensitivity studies. The course ends with a Capstone Project, where you apply everything you have learned to a complete building energy simulation project.
The Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course responds to the growing demand for technicians who can run accurate energy simulations for code compliance, green building certification, energy audits and high-performance building design. The construction and retrofit industry needs professionals who master both thermal modeling and the interpretation of results, and who can propose improvements based on rigorous quantitative analysis.
The course prepares you to build reliable energy models from scratch, configure HVAC and ventilation systems correctly, run hourly simulations with the EnergyPlus calculation engine, calibrate models by comparing results with actual energy use, and evaluate the impact of different improvement strategies through parametric and sensitivity analysis.
You will work hands-on with DesignBuilder as the graphical interface and EnergyPlus as the simulation engine, the standard tools used internationally in energy consulting. The course ends with a Capstone Project, where you develop a complete energy modeling and analysis project using all the skills you have gained.
The Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course prepares you for specialized technical roles at energy efficiency consultancies, architecture firms, MEP engineering firms, and the technical departments of general contractors and developers. You could work as an energy modeler, green building certification consultant, energy audit specialist, or lead for passive design and efficiency strategies.
You will learn to develop complete energy modeling projects: building the geometry with correctly defined thermal zones, characterizing the envelope and its thermal bridges, configuring HVAC systems to project specifications, running simulations and analyzing hourly demand and energy use results.
You will also be able to calibrate models with metered data, run sensitivity analyses to identify the most influential variables, propose and quantify energy conservation measures, and prepare professional technical reports for clients and certification bodies. The hands-on approach lets you apply what you learn to real projects right away.
Study from anywhere with no commute. Balance your technical specialization with your current job.
Plan your study around your own schedule. Move through the modules when it suits you and review whatever you need.
Learn DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus, the same simulation tools consultancies use on real projects.
Technical video lessons, up-to-date downloadable materials, forums with specialized tutors, and hands-on modeling exercises.
With ICTESS you get specialized technical training focused on professional practice and built so you master the skills demanded in building energy efficiency. Learn with up-to-date methods and real simulation tools.
What you'll achieve
Build geometric building models in DesignBuilder, defining thermal zones, the envelope, thermal bridges and internal loads with dynamic simulation methodology.
Configure HVAC systems and ventilation strategies in the energy model, selecting appropriate templates and adjusting parameters to project technical specifications.
Run hourly simulations with EnergyPlus, interpret demand and energy use results, and calibrate models against metered data or utility bills per ASHRAE Guideline 14.
Perform sensitivity analyses and improvement scenarios to quantify the impact of different energy efficiency strategies on the building’s thermal performance.
Prepare professional technical reports with simulation results, comparative charts and improvement recommendations for clients, certification bodies and code officials.
The building industry is going through a deep transformation driven by decarbonization goals and increasingly strict energy codes. The IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 performance paths, state and local building performance standards and green building certifications all rely on energy modeling, creating steady demand for professionals who can model and optimize the energy performance of new and existing buildings.
A technical requirement for compliance and certification: Dynamic energy simulation is increasingly required for ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G performance rating, LEED energy credits, energy audits of large facilities and technical justifications to code officials. Simplified tools fall short on complex projects, which makes DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus proficiency a highly valued distinctive skill.
Data-driven decision-making: Retrofit and high-performance construction projects must justify investments through rigorous technical and economic analysis. The ability to simulate scenarios and quantify savings lets architects, engineers and consultants support their recommendations with objective data and verifiable numerical comparisons.
Competitive edge in the job market: Specialized training in advanced energy simulation sets you apart from profiles that only use simplified compliance tools. Mastering dynamic modeling, model calibration and sensitivity analysis makes you a priority candidate at energy consultancies and sustainable architecture firms.
Completing the Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course positions you in a steadily growing field driven by stricter energy codes, the push toward zero energy buildings and green building certification requirements.
Access to specialized technical roles: You will be qualified for positions such as energy modeler, building certification consultant, energy auditor or passive design specialist. The ability to model and quantify energy savings is in high demand at consultancies, architecture firms and MEP engineering firms.
Command of internationally recognized tools: DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus are standard building energy simulation tools worldwide. Proficiency in them sets you apart in hiring and lets you work on international projects with methods recognized by ASHRAE and the US Department of Energy.
Ability to quantify design decisions: You will build the skills to evaluate numerically the impact of different envelope and system strategies, so you can technically justify your recommendations to clients and demonstrate the return on investment of the proposed efficiency measures.
Recognized professional certificate: The ICTESS professional certificate backs your technical specialization in energy modeling, strengthening your position in the job market and validating your skills with construction and energy efficiency companies.
This course is designed for professionals and graduates who want to specialize in building energy simulation with advanced dynamic modeling tools. Recommended profiles include:
Program details
The Capstone Project is the culminating stage of the course and brings together all the technical skills you develop. It involves the complete development of a building energy simulation project for a real or representative building, from building the geometric model to preparing a professional report with quantified improvement recommendations.
The project includes building the model in DesignBuilder with correctly defined thermal zones, detailed characterization of the envelope and its thermophysical properties, thermal bridge modeling, internal loads with realistic schedules, and HVAC systems that match the building’s characteristics. You will run hourly simulations with EnergyPlus and analyze heating and cooling demand, energy use by end use, and operative temperatures in the modeled zones.
The project also includes model calibration if utility data is available, sensitivity analysis to identify critical variables, and the evaluation of at least three improvement scenarios with quantified energy and cost savings. The final deliverable must meet the technical standard and professional format of energy consulting reports, showing that you can produce rigorous documentation for clients, certification bodies or code officials.
ICTESS’s Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course focuses on professional proficiency in DesignBuilder, one of the most widely used graphical interfaces for building energy simulation, which runs on the EnergyPlus calculation engine. EnergyPlus is the dynamic simulation software developed with funding from the US Department of Energy and is a reference standard for hourly building thermal analysis. You will learn to build complete geometric models, define materials and assemblies, configure HVAC systems at different levels of detail, run annual simulations and analyze hourly demand, energy use and comfort results. Energy efficiency consultancies frequently list DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus experience in job postings, and these tools are widely used on projects pursuing certifications such as LEED.
An engineering or architecture degree is not required, but technical training in construction, building systems or energy is recommended. The course is designed for building, industrial and energy engineers, architects and construction managers, and it is also open to energy raters, HVAC professionals and technical graduates with basic knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer and HVAC systems. You will need to read architectural drawings, handle building physics concepts and work with fairly complex technical software. Prior experience with simplified compliance tools such as REScheck or COMcheck, or with other energy modeling tools such as eQUEST, makes learning easier, although it is not a requirement.
The ICTESS Professional Certificate backs your technical competence in energy modeling with DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus and is valued by industry employers as high-level specialized training. Although the certificate is not itself a LEED AP credential or BREEAM Assessor license, which require each organization’s own process, the course gives you the technical skills to run the energy simulations these rating systems require. LEED projects using the performance path require whole-building energy modeling under ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G with simulation software tested to ASHRAE Standard 140, and EnergyPlus is one of the accepted engines. Proficiency in DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus lets you carry out the energy performance analyses behind the energy credits, working as an energy modeler on specialized consulting teams.
The Building Energy Modeling with DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus Training Course stands out for its focus on hourly dynamic simulation, compared with the simplified or prescriptive methods most energy compliance courses teach. While conventional programs teach simplified compliance tools, this course trains you in hour-by-hour simulation over a full year, capturing the building’s real thermal behavior with much greater accuracy. DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus lets you model complex HVAC systems with individual components, analyze advanced control strategies, evaluate the impact of thermal mass, study indoor comfort in detail, and calibrate models with metered data. This capability is essential for projects that go beyond the limits of simplified methods: large buildings, international certifications, deep retrofits, or innovative designs that require justification through detailed simulation.
