Total Energy Use Intensity
When OAA members can show the effects of a building’s carbon and energy footprints, they broaden public awareness and appreciation of the architecture profession’s key role in mitigating climate impacts through responsible design and stewardship. The OAA offers free online tools that complement each other and enable the profession and the public to measure the Total Energy Use Intensity (TEUI) of a building. (The OAA’s Design Excellence Awards require TEUI metrics for eligibility, and these calculators make it easy to include the data.)
The original TEUI Calculator (i.e. TEUI v1) lets you determine an existing home or building’s energy performance by entering simple data into an easy-to-use interface. Users receive instant metrics for their building’s energy performance, and get a printout for sharing. The tool is intended for Part 9 buildings. Check out the video below for a brief tutorial on how to use it.
A more advanced option for Part 9 and 3 buildings, the new TEUI v3 was developed by OpenBuilding.ca and is supported by the OAA. It comprises an Excel File, as well as sample case studies, and creates a direct link between building information modelling (BIM) files. Tied with the proposed 2025 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) and National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), the TEUI3 tool is open-source and free of charge under a creative commons license. It is fully compliant with privacy legislation insofar as no project data is stored without consent by the users. Currently, TEUI3’s developer, Architect Andy Thomson, is offering workshops on its use. To contact him, email him directly.
(TEUI 2.0 was a tool for Part 3 buildings, but has been superseded by TEUI v3 and is no longer maintained.)
TEUI CALCULATOR
Energy simulation or performance compliance tools do not guarantee a building will meet the proposed targeted performance due to factors beyond the control of the software application. This includes construction methods, contractor experience, user interface as well as weather and climate. These calculators are not intended to predict actual performance, but rather to set targets over a baseline or reference case using the same methods. For TEUI3, the beta version is still under validation, peer review, and bench testing—it is available free of charge for research, teaching, and entertainment purposes.
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