As energy costs continue to rise and more companies care about saving energy and protecting the planet, it’s more important than ever to make sure commercial buildings run as efficiently as possible. Whether you own a property or work as a building engineer, using less energy helps the environment—and saves money. One of the best tools to help with this is energy modeling.
What Is Energy Modeling?
Energy modeling is a way to study how a building uses energy. It helps you understand what areas of your building are using more energy than they should. Once you know this, you can make smart changes to improve how your building works.
In the past, energy modeling had to be done by hand. This was a long and difficult process. But now, there are software tools that make it easy. With just a few details about your building, you can create a complete model that shows where you can save energy and money.
Why It’s Important for Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings can be very complex, especially large offices, malls, hospitals, or apartment buildings. There are many systems running at once—like heating, air conditioning, lighting, and water. All of these affect how much energy a building uses.
Since every building is different, it’s hard to spot energy problems without a clear picture. That’s where energy modeling comes in. It helps you see how your building uses energy, what it costs, and what improvements will make the biggest difference.
3 Common Mistakes in Energy Modeling (And How to Avoid Them)
Even with good tools, it’s easy to make mistakes when it comes to energy modeling. Let’s look at some of the most common problems—and how you can avoid them.
1. Only Looking at the Big Issues
Many teams only use energy models to check if a building meets basic rules or codes. But this means they miss other chances to save money or avoid future problems. A good energy model gives you much more than that.
You should use the model to look at how much energy is being used, how much it costs, and how it could be improved. Look at your results in different ways so you can catch both small and big problems.
Also, make sure the reports you get from your model are easy to understand. You need clear, useful information—not pages of confusing numbers. The right tool will show you the best steps to take next.
2. Only Fixing Problems When Something Goes Wrong
Many people only use energy modeling when there’s already a problem. But by then, it’s often too late to make a low-cost fix. If you’re only reacting to issues, you’ll likely spend more money in the long run.
Instead, try to use energy modeling regularly—even for small buildings. Make it part of your building’s routine check-ups. This way, you can catch early warning signs and fix them before they grow into bigger problems. Over time, this will lower costs and make your building run better.
3. Spending Too Much Time Doing It by Hand
Creating an energy model by hand can take 70 to 100 hours. That’s a lot of time, especially for busy teams. Every time you try a different idea or change something, you have to update the model again—and check it for mistakes.
That’s why using automated energy modeling software is such a smart move. It cuts the time needed by up to 75%. You’ll get faster results with fewer errors, and your team can spend more time focusing on real improvements. Automation also helps you stay up to date with the latest equipment and energy-saving options.
Why You Should Use Energy Modeling Software
If your team is short on time, dealing with surprise problems, or not sure how to use energy data, software can help. With the right program, you can:
- Save time and reduce manual work
- Catch problems early and fix them faster
- Make smarter decisions based on real data
- Lower your building’s energy costs
- Support your company’s environmental goals
How NEO Software Can Help
NEO is one of the best tools for automated energy modeling. It gives you fast, accurate results—often in just seconds. While old methods might take days, NEO delivers insights almost instantly.
NEO works for over 40 different building types and includes:
- More than 150 heating and cooling systems
- Over 250 improvement options
- Real cost data to help you see your return on investment
- Tools for both new and existing buildings
Whether you’re a property owner, engineer, architect, or utility manager, NEO has flexible software plans to match your needs. No matter the size of your building, you can start improving energy use today.
Final Thoughts
Energy modeling is one of the most powerful tools for running buildings more efficiently. It helps you see where your building is wasting energy and shows you what to do about it. By avoiding common mistakes and using modern tools like NEO, you’ll save time, reduce costs, and build better spaces for the future.
Want to learn more? Book a demo with the NEO team and see how energy modeling can work for your buildings.
