Energy Design | Variant Comparison and Retrofit Roadmap

Decided early, checked late—and often too late.

Decisions Made Early, Reviewed Late

Building volume, orientation, the proportion of glazing, and the design concept determine the majority of the building’s future energy needs. Experience has shown that these very decisions are made during the conceptual phase based on experience, not on simulations.

Too slow and too expensive

A thorough comparison of alternatives across all criteria takes weeks and consumes a significant portion of the budget. This is hardly feasible during the phased concept phase.

Wrong Decisions Based on Assumptions

Without a thoroughly calculated basis, the energy concept and CO₂ pathway rely on assumptions, carrying the risk of misclassified energy efficiency ratings and oversized equipment used as a stopgap measure.

What Is Energy Design?

Energy Design determines what a building truly needs—from the proper configuration for heating, cooling, and ventilation, to the right windows, to facade insulation. All options are simulated—both individually and in combination—taking into account the interdependencies between the measures. By evaluating them based on operating costs, life-cycle costs, and CO₂ emissions, it becomes clear which option achieves the goals most cost-effectively. This way,

What Energy Design Entails

A comprehensive analysis of alternatives during the conceptual phase—including economic and technical analysis, heating and cooling load calculations, and cost estimates.

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Economic
Profitability Analysis

Economic
Profitability Analysis

OPTIMUSE analyzes which components and systems a building needs and calculates the associated investment, operating, and life-cycle costs. This allows you to see which option is most cost-effective in the long run.

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A Holistic Technical Perspective

A Holistic Technical Perspective

We consider the building as a whole: the building envelope, technical systems for heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as specific components. This makes the interdependencies between the systems apparent.

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Sustainability and Compliance with Standards

Sustainability and Compliance with Standards

For each option, we calculate energy consumption, CO₂ impact, and energy efficiency ratings—in accordance with the relevant standards. This allows you to identify which option meets your sustainability goals.

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Documentation and Comparison

Documentation and Comparison

You’ll receive all options presented in a clear, organized manner and ready for direct comparison—providing a solid foundation for investment decisions, approvals, reporting, and design planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Energy Design, and when should I use it? In the early project phases (0 to 2), for both new construction and existing buildings. For new construction, you can identify the most cost-effective building configuration before decisions are finalized. For existing buildings, you can optimize renovation, decarbonization, and maintenance, and plan the necessary measures well in advance.

Can you compare specific products, such as two heat pump models?

Yes, right down to the manufacturer level. You upload the technical data sheets for specific components, and we simulate the variants precisely based on this real product data—not a generic comparison, but specific models with their actual parameters. You can then continue to simulate these variants further.

Does Energy Design also work on existing buildings without a BIM model?

Yes. You upload your existing plans—such as 2D plans in DWG format. We digitize these to create a digital twin on which the variant studies are run. So the model structure is not an obstacle.

Does Energie Design also work for existing buildings without a BIM model? Yes. We build the digital twin in advance using 2D plans or as-built data. Energy Design relies on this; building the model is not an obstacle. We require at least a LOD 250 model as a prerequisite. With a complete set of data, you’ll receive it within 3 business days; with PDFs only, within 5 to 7 business days.

How does Energie Design help with the CRREM Path and the Individual Renovation Roadmap (iSFP)? For each scenario, we calculate CRREM compliance according to v2.04—determining when the property becomes a stranded asset under the respective scenario. This results in a renovation roadmap: which combination of measures postpones the stranding year by how much, and at what level of CapEx. IG Real Estate example: 12 office buildings, renovation sequence over 7 years, prioritized by stranding risk.

What standard is used as a basis, and who validated the methodology?

At its core, it is a thermodynamic simulation, supplemented by additional calculation methods. Depending on the problem at hand, different standards—such as DIN standards or ÖNORM—are used to determine the most appropriate method and the most reliable result for each variant.

How long does a study take? As soon as the digital twin is available, you will receive the complete results within up to 7 business days—calculated based on your goals and requirements.

What types of cost-benefit analyses are conducted? Cost-effectiveness analyses that comply with standards, including life-cycle costs and CO₂ emissions. For each option, we clearly demonstrate how it differs in terms of cost-effectiveness. We also take your specific requirements into account, such as how different options affect certification criteria.