High-Performance Building HVAC and Energy Modelling Training Course

Course Introduction

High-performance buildings are designed to maximize energy efficiency, occupant comfort, indoor environmental quality, operational resilience, and long-term sustainability while minimizing lifecycle costs and environmental impact. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a significant proportion of building energy consumption, making their design, optimization, and integration with energy modelling essential to achieving superior building performance. This course provides participants with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to design high-performance HVAC systems, develop accurate building energy models, evaluate system performance, and implement optimization strategies that improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance occupant well-being.

Modern commercial, institutional, healthcare, industrial, and mixed-use buildings operate under increasingly complex performance requirements driven by energy efficiency regulations, green building certifications, net-zero energy objectives, occupant health standards, and digital building technologies. Factors such as building orientation, envelope characteristics, occupancy patterns, ventilation requirements, renewable energy integration, intelligent controls, and equipment performance significantly influence building energy consumption and HVAC efficiency. This course equips participants with advanced engineering methodologies to model building energy performance, optimize HVAC systems, improve thermal comfort, and achieve sustainable building operation while maintaining reliability and regulatory compliance.

The High-Performance Building HVAC and Energy Modelling Training Course integrates engineering theory with practical building applications to develop competencies in psychrometrics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, HVAC system design, building physics, cooling and heating load analysis, building envelope evaluation, energy simulation, daylight analysis, ventilation engineering, renewable energy integration, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Building Management Systems (BMS), energy benchmarking, lifecycle cost analysis, reliability engineering, and sustainability assessment. Participants will gain practical experience in developing energy models, evaluating HVAC alternatives, conducting performance simulations, optimizing equipment selection, and implementing engineering solutions that improve building efficiency and operational excellence.

The course also explores emerging technologies transforming high-performance building engineering and digital energy management. Participants will examine Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins, cloud-based energy management platforms, advanced building analytics, predictive maintenance, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), intelligent occupancy sensing, smart lighting integration, automated fault detection, demand response technologies, and advanced building optimization software. These innovations enable organizations to continuously monitor building performance, predict equipment degradation, optimize HVAC operations, reduce energy consumption, and support engineering decision-making through real-time data analytics and intelligent automation.

Practical workshops, HVAC design exercises, building energy simulations, thermal comfort assessments, equipment selection studies, energy benchmarking projects, industrial case studies, and optimization exercises are integrated throughout the course to strengthen participants' technical, analytical, and engineering decision-making capabilities. Participants will perform cooling and heating load calculations, develop building energy models, evaluate HVAC system performance, optimize building operations, analyze energy consumption patterns, and apply internationally recognized engineering standards and sustainability frameworks to real high-performance building projects.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will possess advanced competencies in HVAC engineering, high-performance building design, energy modelling, sustainability engineering, digital building technologies, maintenance engineering, and lifecycle asset management. They will be equipped to improve HVAC efficiency, reduce energy consumption, enhance occupant comfort, strengthen building resilience, support net-zero energy objectives, optimize operational performance, and maximize the long-term value of building assets through world-class engineering and sustainable building design practices.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• HVAC Engineers

• Mechanical Engineers

• Building Services Engineers

• Energy Engineers

• Sustainability Engineers

• Facilities Engineers

• Building Performance Engineers

• Commissioning Engineers

• Project Engineers

• Design Engineers

• Building Automation Engineers

• Energy Managers

• Facility Managers

• Architects

• Green Building Consultants

• Engineering Consultants

• Maintenance Engineers

• Operations Engineers

• Asset Managers

• Technical Operations Personnel

Course Objectives

• Develop comprehensive knowledge of high-performance building principles, HVAC engineering, and energy modelling methodologies that improve energy efficiency, occupant comfort, operational reliability, and environmental sustainability.

• Apply advanced engineering techniques to design, evaluate, and optimize HVAC systems for commercial, institutional, healthcare, industrial, and mixed-use buildings using internationally recognized standards and best practices.

• Perform detailed heating and cooling load calculations by analyzing building envelope characteristics, occupancy profiles, climate conditions, ventilation requirements, and internal heat gains to support optimized system design.

• Develop accurate building energy models to evaluate energy consumption, HVAC system performance, renewable energy integration, lifecycle costs, and operational efficiency under various operating scenarios.

• Design high-performance HVAC systems incorporating chilled water systems, heat pumps, variable refrigerant flow technologies, energy recovery ventilation, thermal storage, and intelligent control strategies.

• Evaluate indoor environmental quality through advanced analysis of thermal comfort, humidity control, ventilation effectiveness, air filtration, daylight interaction, and occupant wellness requirements.

• Integrate Building Information Modelling, Building Management Systems, Industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, digital twins, predictive analytics, and smart building technologies into high-performance building engineering.

• Optimize building energy performance through renewable energy integration, demand response strategies, building automation, advanced controls, energy recovery systems, and continuous commissioning methodologies.

• Apply international engineering standards, ASHRAE guidelines, green building certification frameworks, building energy codes, and sustainability regulations governing high-performance building design and operation.

• Conduct engineering analyses including lifecycle cost assessments, energy benchmarking, carbon footprint evaluations, performance verification, and measurement techniques supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

• Develop predictive maintenance, reliability engineering, and lifecycle asset management strategies that improve HVAC availability, reduce maintenance costs, enhance equipment longevity, and support operational excellence.

• Strengthen engineering leadership and technical decision-making capabilities through practical workshops, energy simulation projects, industrial case studies, and building optimization exercises that maximize building performance and sustainability.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Fundamentals of High-Performance Buildings

• Principles of sustainable and high-performance building engineering

• Building physics affecting thermal and energy performance

• Heat transfer mechanisms influencing building efficiency

• International standards supporting high-performance building design

Module 2: HVAC Engineering for High-Performance Buildings

• HVAC system configurations for energy-efficient building applications

• Psychrometric analysis supporting thermal comfort optimization

• Air distribution design improving indoor environmental quality

• HVAC zoning strategies enhancing operational flexibility

Module 3: Building Load Modelling

• Heating load calculations using advanced engineering methodologies

• Cooling load modelling considering climate and occupancy variations

• Internal heat gain analysis improving HVAC equipment sizing

• Building envelope evaluation supporting energy-efficient design

Module 4: Building Energy Modelling

• Energy simulation methodologies for building performance evaluation

• Model calibration techniques improving simulation accuracy

• Comparative analysis of HVAC system alternatives

• Sensitivity analysis supporting engineering decision-making

Module 5: High-Efficiency HVAC Equipment Selection

• Chiller selection supporting optimized cooling performance

• Heat pump technologies improving building energy efficiency

• Variable refrigerant flow system applications for flexible operation

• Energy recovery equipment supporting reduced utility consumption

Module 6: Ventilation and Indoor Environmental Quality

• Ventilation engineering supporting occupant health and productivity

• Indoor air quality assessment using engineering performance metrics

• Humidity management strategies improving building comfort

• Advanced filtration technologies supporting clean indoor environments

Module 7: Renewable Energy Integration

• Solar thermal integration supporting HVAC system performance

• Photovoltaic systems reducing building energy consumption

• Thermal energy storage improving demand-side management

• Hybrid energy systems supporting net-zero building objectives

Module 8: Building Automation and Smart Controls

• Building Management Systems supporting integrated HVAC optimization

• Industrial Internet of Things enabling continuous building monitoring

• Intelligent occupancy sensing improving energy utilization

• Automated control strategies supporting operational efficiency

Module 9: Digital Engineering and Advanced Analytics

• Artificial intelligence applications in building energy optimization

• Machine learning supporting predictive HVAC performance management

• Digital twin technologies improving building operational simulations

• Computational fluid dynamics enhancing airflow and thermal analysis

Module 10: Energy Performance Optimization

• Building energy benchmarking supporting performance improvements

• Demand response strategies reducing peak energy consumption

• Continuous commissioning improving long-term HVAC efficiency

• Carbon reduction initiatives supporting sustainability objectives

Module 11: Maintenance and Reliability Engineering

• Preventive maintenance strategies for high-performance HVAC systems

• Predictive maintenance using intelligent condition monitoring technologies

• Reliability-centered maintenance improving equipment availability

• Lifecycle asset management supporting sustainable building operations

Module 12: Green Building Standards and Compliance

• ASHRAE standards supporting HVAC engineering excellence

• LEED and other green building certification requirements

• Building energy codes governing efficient building performance

• Environmental regulations affecting sustainable building operations

Module 13: Commissioning and Performance Verification

• HVAC commissioning methodologies ensuring design compliance

• Measurement and verification supporting energy performance validation

• Air and water balancing improving operational effectiveness

• Building performance testing using engineering assessment techniques

Module 14: Lifecycle Cost Analysis and Sustainability

• Lifecycle cost assessment supporting investment decision-making

• Whole-building performance evaluation methodologies

• Operational expenditure optimization through engineering improvements

• Sustainability reporting supporting organizational ESG objectives

Module 15: Practical Workshops and Industrial Case Studies

• Building energy modelling exercises using real project data

• HVAC optimization workshops with engineering simulations

• Industrial case studies involving high-performance building projects

• Group projects developing integrated HVAC and energy optimization solutions

Module 16: Future Trends in High-Performance Buildings

• Smart buildings supporting autonomous energy optimization

• Advanced digital technologies transforming building operations

• Net-zero energy building innovations for future developments

• Emerging engineering trends shaping sustainable building performance

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.