ASHRAE has announced that its next “Energy Modeling Conference: Tools for Designing High Performance Buildings” will take place Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 2015, in Atlanta.

The conference builds on past ASHRAE Energy Modeling Conferences by addressing the industry need for “how to” do certain aspects of energy and building simulation, according to Dennis Knight, conference chair.

“The conference theme is ‘Making the Difference with Modeling: From Concept to Facility Management,’ and broadly covers modeling from start to finish through high quality case study presentations,” he said.

ASHRAE seeks presenters who can speak specifically about the use of modeling to design, construct, commission, operate, and maintain new and existing buildings to improve a building's energy performance and indoor environmental quality while reducing the cost to operate and maintain them. The conference will focus on the tools, step-by-step processes, best practices, and workflows for the application of single or multiple modeling techniques.

Presentations addressing the following modeling techniques and processes are requested:

• HVAC load analysis

• Daylighting

• Water use

• Computational fluid dynamics

• BIM integration

• Indoor environmental quality

• Natural ventilation and passive systems

• Humidity control

• Envelope optimization

• Whole building simulation

• Energy analysis

• Code compliance

• Building performance rating system analysis

• Utility rebates

• Incentive programs

• Renewable energy systems

• Performance assessment (modeled versus actual performance)

• Sensitivity and risk analysis

• Modeling workflow and quality control for both input and output

Presenters are asked to highlight the economic benefits (business cases) for owners, design professionals, constructors, and facility managers for using energy models and building simulations throughout a building's life cycle, this includes conceptual design, final design, M&V, existing building performance assessment, and retrofit assessment and end of useful life decision making.

The conference seeks to facilitate communication and coordination within the energy modeling and building simulation industry and software developers to advance the industry’s ability to better model high performance buildings and to advance the practitioner’s understanding of the application of existing and new tools, new technology and processes for energy modeling, whole building simulation and building HVAC system design. 

Participants in the conference will be day-to-day energy modeling and building simulation practicing professionals, principals of consulting firms, consulting engineers, other practicing professionals and software developers.

To submit a presentation application, visit www.ashrae.org/EMC2015. Information required for the submission is a 300-500 word abstract, 100 word “promotion” abstract, and other information indicated on the website.

Presenters will give an oral presentation, have their presentations posted online for conference attendees, and receive a substantially-reduced conference registration rate.

Abstracts are due March 2, and notification of abstract decisions will happen by March 16. Accepted speaker forms are due March 30, and presentations are due Sept. 8.

For more information, visit www.ashrae.org/EMC2015.