Energy Calculations
Permit-ready energy documentation for residential and commercial projects
RunBrook provides energy calculation services to help builders, developers, contractors, architects, and project teams demonstrate energy code compliance and prepare documentation for permitting, plan review, inspections, and project closeout.
Whether your project includes a single-family home, multifamily development, production home community, renovation, addition, or commercial building, our team helps prepare clear, accurate energy calculations that align with applicable code requirements and project goals.
Why energy calculations matter
Support compliance and keep projects moving
Energy calculations are often required to show that a home or building meets applicable energy code requirements. Complete and accurate documentation can help reduce plan review comments, avoid permitting delays, and give project teams confidence that key energy-related details have been accounted for before construction begins.
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Provide required energy documentation for plan review, permitting, and inspection.
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Show that the building meets applicable residential or commercial energy code requirements.
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Submit clear, organized calculations that help limit unnecessary back-and-forth with jurisdictions.
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Confirm that envelope, HVAC, lighting, water heating, and ventilation details are properly accounted for.
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Use energy calculations to understand how building systems and assemblies affect efficiency.
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Connect energy calculations with HERS ratings, HVAC permit packages, blower door testing, duct leakage testing, and certifications.
What are energy calculations?
Energy calculations are compliance documents used to show how a building meets energy code requirements. They evaluate important energy-related features such as insulation, windows, doors, air leakage, HVAC systems, water heating, lighting, ventilation, and overall building performance.
Depending on the project type and jurisdiction, energy calculations may be required for permit submission, plan review, inspection approval, or final project documentation. They can also help project teams compare compliance options and understand how different design choices affect energy performance.
What is included in energy calculations?
Documentation based on your project and jurisdiction
Energy calculation requirements vary by project type, code version, and local jurisdiction. RunBrook can prepare documentation that may include:
Residential energy code compliance forms
Commercial energy code compliance forms
Envelope compliance calculations
Mechanical system inputs
Lighting compliance documentation
Water heating inputs
Ventilation information
Air leakage assumptions
Duct leakage assumptions
Insulation and fenestration values
Performance path documentation
Prescriptive path documentation
Project-specific compliance reports
This documentation helps project teams demonstrate that the building meets applicable energy requirements before permit approval or final inspection.
Residential energy calculations
Support for homes, multifamily, and production communities
RunBrook provides residential energy calculations for single-family homes, townhomes, multifamily projects, build-to-rent communities, renovations, additions, and production home developments.
For residential projects, energy calculations may evaluate the building envelope, HVAC system, water heating, ductwork, air leakage, ventilation, and other energy-related features. These calculations help demonstrate compliance and can also support HERS ratings, ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, NGBS, FGBC, or other residential performance programs.
Best for:
Single-family homes
Multifamily developments
Townhome projects
Production home communities
Build-to-rent communities
Renovations and additions
Residential community developments
Commercial energy calculations
Energy code documentation for larger and more complex buildings
RunBrook also provides energy calculations for commercial buildings, mixed-use developments, tenant improvements, office spaces, retail spaces, clubhouses, amenity buildings, and other nonresidential projects.
Commercial energy calculations may include envelope, mechanical, lighting, service water heating, and system control documentation depending on the project scope and applicable code path. Our team helps organize project information into clear compliance documentation for review.
Best for:
Commercial buildings
Mixed-use developments
Office spaces
Retail spaces
Tenant improvements
Clubhouses and amenity buildings
Multifamily common areas
Renovations and buildouts
Large-scale construction projects
Energy code compliance paths
Prescriptive, performance, and trade-off options
Energy calculations may be completed using different compliance paths depending on the project type, code version, and jurisdiction requirements. RunBrook can help determine which path best fits the project, jurisdiction, and design goals.
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Prescriptive compliance follows specific code requirements for items such as insulation levels, window performance, HVAC efficiency, lighting power, and equipment requirements. This path can be straightforward when the project meets each required measure.
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Performance compliance evaluates the building as a whole and may allow trade-offs between different building systems. For example, improved HVAC efficiency may help offset certain envelope conditions, depending on the applicable code path.
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Some projects use trade-off calculations to demonstrate that one efficiency measure balances another. This can be useful when project teams need design flexibility while still meeting energy code requirements.
IECC and local code requirements
Energy codes vary by state and jurisdiction
The International Energy Conservation Code, or IECC, is one of the primary model energy codes used across the United States for residential and commercial buildings. Recent versions include the 2021 IECC and 2024 IECC, but adoption varies widely by state, city, county, and local jurisdiction.
Many areas are still enforcing older versions of the IECC or have adopted local amendments that change how compliance must be demonstrated. Because requirements can differ from one jurisdiction to another, it is important to confirm the applicable code version before preparing energy calculations or submitting for permit review.
RunBrook helps project teams understand applicable energy code requirements, prepare the appropriate documentation, and support permitting or inspection needs based on the project location.
When should you request energy calculations?
Start before permit submission
Energy calculations should typically be prepared before permit submission and before major energy-related decisions are finalized. Starting early gives the project team time to confirm insulation values, window performance, HVAC details, lighting assumptions, ventilation requirements, and compliance path options.
For production builders, multifamily developments, and commercial projects, early coordination can also help streamline repeated plan sets, phased construction, and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
How energy calculations connect to other services
A stronger path to compliance and performance
Energy calculations often work alongside other RunBrook services. Depending on the project, calculations may support or connect with:
HERS ratings
HVAC permit packages
Manual J, S, and D calculations
Blower door testing
Duct leakage testing
HVAC grading
Energy modeling
LEED certification
NGBS certification
FGBC certification
ENERGY STAR requirements
Quality assurance inspections
By coordinating energy calculations with testing, ratings, and certification services, RunBrook can help project teams reduce confusion and keep documentation aligned.
Our process
Clear, organized, and review-ready
Step - 1 Review project information
We collect and review plans, specifications, envelope details, mechanical information, lighting details, water heating systems, and project goals.
Step - 2 Determine the compliance path
Our team identifies the applicable code requirements and determines the appropriate energy compliance path for the project.
We complete the required calculations, forms, reports, and supporting documentation.
Step - 3 Prepare energy calculations
Step 4 - Support review and next steps
If questions or comments arise during permitting or plan review, RunBrook can help clarify documentation and support the project team.
Why choose RunBrook?
Energy compliance backed by building performance expertise
RunBrook brings technical knowledge, code compliance experience, and practical building science insight to energy calculations. Because our team also provides HERS ratings, energy modeling, HVAC permit packages, blower door testing, duct leakage testing, HVAC grading, LEED support, NGBS certification, FGBC certification, and quality assurance inspections, we understand how energy documentation connects to real-world construction and performance.
Project teams choose RunBrook for:
Residential and commercial energy calculation support
Knowledge of IECC and local energy code requirements
Permit-ready documentation
Support for prescriptive, performance, and trade-off compliance paths
Residential, multifamily, production home, and commercial project expertise
Coordination with builders, architects, engineers, and contractors
HERS rating and certification program support
Clear reporting and organized submittals
Fast turnaround times
Frequently asked questions
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Many jurisdictions require energy calculations as part of the permit submission or plan review process. Requirements vary by state, city, county, building department, and project type.
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Energy calculations are typically based on the applicable energy code adopted by the project’s jurisdiction, often a version of the IECC or a state-specific energy code with local amendments.
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Typical information includes architectural plans, insulation values, window and door specifications, HVAC system details, water heating information, lighting details, ventilation requirements, and project location.
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Yes. Energy calculations can support the broader energy compliance and rating process, especially when coordinated with HERS ratings, blower door testing, duct leakage testing, and HVAC grading.
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Yes. RunBrook supports multifamily developments, townhomes, production home communities, build-to-rent projects, and other residential developments.
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Yes. RunBrook provides energy calculation support for commercial buildings, mixed-use projects, office spaces, retail spaces, tenant improvements, amenity buildings, and other nonresidential projects.
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Energy calculations are often used for code compliance documentation, while energy modeling is a more detailed simulation that can evaluate whole-building performance, compare design options, support incentives, and assist with certifications.
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Energy calculations should be requested before permit submission and before major energy-related design decisions are finalized.
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Yes. RunBrook can help clarify energy documentation and support the project team in responding to energy-related plan review comments.
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Yes. While many of RunBrook’s clients are located in the Southeastern United States, our team can support energy calculations and many other services nationwide.
Prefer to talk first?
Call us at 1-833-RunBrook
(1-833-786-2766)
or email us directly at info@runbrook.com
We’ll get back to you right away!
Discuss Your Next Project
If your project requires energy modeling, certification support, HERS ratings, blower door testing, or other building performance services, RunBrook can help keep the process moving from design through final verification.