Level 1 Open — July 2026 Official Certification
Sustainable Design &
Building Performance Simulation
The complete starting point for building performance simulation. Four structured weeks — from building physics first principles through simulation software mastery to a live project on your own building. No prior simulation experience required.
Delivered live and remotely — suitable for professionals in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and anywhere in the world. Official IES VE certification on completion.
Course at a Glance
Format
Live Remote · Daily
Duration
4 Weeks · 20 Sessions
Tools
IES VE · DesignBuilder
Prerequisites
None
Certification
Official Software
Next cohort: July 2026 · 4 seats remaining
Who is this course for?
Architects who want to simulate, not just sketch
MEP and civil engineers entering energy modelling
Sustainability consultants formalising their simulation skills
LEED / BREEAM professionals needing simulation evidence
Graduate architects and postgraduate students in design or engineering
Anyone preparing to take an advanced specialisation course
What you’ll leave knowing
- Understand building physics — heat transfer, thermodynamics, climatology and psychrometrics as they apply to real design decisions
- Read and apply sun path diagrams, design effective shading devices and generate shadow masks
- Build an accurate 3D energy model in IES VE or DesignBuilder from scratch
- Assign constructions, materials, occupancy schedules and internal gains to zones correctly
- Run seasonal and annual energy simulations and interpret heating, cooling and thermal comfort outputs
- Perform daylighting analysis — sDA, illuminance, glare — and use results to optimise window design
- Analyse natural ventilation pathways and calculate air changes per hour
- Run parametric scenario modelling to compare design alternatives and reduce EPI
- Produce a sustainability report with parameter charts and green rating compliance outputs for your own project
Full Curriculum
20 sessions across 4 structured weeks
Each week builds on the previous. Week 4 applies everything to your own current project — you leave with a real simulation, real results and a real sustainability report.
Week 1 — Sustainable Design
The theory behind how buildings gain, lose and manage heat — and how climate shapes design decisions before a single wall is drawn.
Session 1
Heat Flows in Buildings
Building physics, heat transfer, climatology and thermodynamic principles. Key terms in building science relevant to energy efficiency and design.
Session 2
Psychrometrics, Climate & Daylight
Using psychrometric charts to identify passive techniques for different climatic zones. Daylight factor, sky illuminance and lux levels.
Session 3
Solar Geometry
Correlating planetary movement with seasons, reading sun path diagrams, designing shading devices using global horizontal radiation and shadow masks.
Session 4
Passive Design Techniques
Passive measures that improve building performance using the natural environment — diurnal variations, wind and pressure patterns applied to design strategy.
Session 5
Low-Energy Technologies
Low-energy alternatives to conventional HVAC — technologies that consume little or no energy while achieving thermal comfort in GCC and tropical climates.
Week 2 — Simulation Software
Hands-on inside IES VE and DesignBuilder — building the model, assigning properties, setting up schedules and running the first solar analysis.
Session 6
Software Interface
Site location, North setting, system settings, unit preferences and save settings overview in IES VE / DesignBuilder.
Session 7
Energy Modelling Geometry
Drawing and editing geometry for an accurate building representation. Designing local shade to offset solar heat gain.
Session 8
Constructions & Materials
Assigning materials, construction types and their energy footprint impact. Creating custom wall construction parameters.
Session 9
Occupancy & System Schedules
Schedules for occupancy, systems, lighting and internal gains. Assigning daily, weekly and annual schedules to all building internal gains.
Session 10
Solar & Shading Analysis
Visualise the sun’s impact using a 3D interactive tool. Observe shadow patterns in and around your building and evaluate shading device effectiveness.
Week 3 — Results & Optimising
Running real simulations, reading outputs and using data to improve the design — including daylighting and natural ventilation analysis.
Session 11
Running Simulations
Setting up and performing energy simulations. Seasonal and annual time period output options and how to configure them correctly.
Session 12
Evaluating Results
Understanding the different forms of simulation output. Correlating results to heating and cooling load analysis and thermal comfort analysis.
Session 13
Optimising Design
How envelope parameter changes, material specifications and construction assemblies reduce energy consumption and lower the building’s overall EPI.
Session 14
Natural Ventilation
Airflow patterns, calculating air changes per hour, evaluating the effectiveness of openings and ventilation paths through the building design.
Session 15
Daylighting Analysis
Daylighting simulations for sDA, illuminance and glare. Interpreting results to optimise windows, orientation and shading depth for visual comfort.
Week 4 — Your Live Project
Everything from weeks 1–3 applied to your own current project. Your building, your climate, your brief. You leave with a completed energy model, real results and a sustainability report.
Session 16
Baseline Energy Modelling
Energy model of your project — walls, roofs, windows, partitions, HVAC and schedules in its actual climatic location.
Session 17
Running Simulations & Inference
Run simulations on your actual project. Interrogate the energy model, extract target variables and correlate energy consumption patterns.
Session 18
Develop Design Recommendations
Explore material alternatives, system efficiencies, shading and passive strategies to identify viable improvements to your design.
Session 19
Scenario Modelling
Simulations for individual scenarios — hybrid solutions and the most effective combination of materials, systems and space planning.
Session 20 · Final
Make Your Sustainability Report
Parameter charts, scenario-based outputs and green building rating compliance formats — a complete sustainability report ready for your client or submission.
What’s Included
Everything you need from day one
20 Live Sessions
Interactive hands-on live instruction with real-time Q&A — not pre-recorded. Delivered by an active consultant, not a software reseller.
Live Project Week
Week 4 is your own project. You leave with a completed energy model, simulation results and a full project sustainability report in-hand.
Official Software Certificate
Globally recognised. Counts toward learning for CIBSE, ASHRAE and most professional applications in the Gulf and MENA Region.
Session Recordings
All 20 sessions recorded and shared with enrolled participants. Rewatch any module at your own pace after each session.
July 2026 Cohort
4 seats remaining in July 2026
AED 1,200 – 1,800 · Live remote · Official Software certification · No prerequisites.
Enquire now and we’ll confirm availability and send the full syllabus within 24 hours.