Download the COMNET Energy Modeling Portal fact sheet.
What is the COMNET Portal?
The COMNET Portal is an online platform used to collect energy modeling simulation results, perform quality assurance checks, and submit the results to a rating authority. The initial implementation of the Portal is designed specifically to submit the results to LEED Online for EA Prerequisite 2, and EA Credit 1 using the LEED Automation process. In the future, we plan to expand this functionality to allow modelers to submit their models for code compliance, asset rating programs, and utility incentive programs.
How do I use the Portal?
It's simple! With a few button clicks, your energy model results are uploaded to the COMNET database where they are then available to program administrators such as USGBC. Compare that with the current process and you will see the clear productivity benefit. Previously, a modeler would be required to sift through pages of output reports, locate the appropriate data, post-process the results in a spreadsheet to convert units, and then manually type this information into the LEED Letter Templates or the format requried by other program administrators. With the COMNET Portal, a user simply uploades the results directly from the simulation software, the Portal filters the results automatically, performs QA checks to ensure the results are valid, and makes them available for dowload by program administrators. View Tutorial
What is the COMNET XML Output Standard?
Chapter 4 of the COMNET Modeling Guidelines and Procedures (MGP) specifies that the electronic format of COMNET standard reports will be XML. XML is a broadly used mechanism for describing, storing, and exchanging data. The primary function of XML is to effectively organize data and allow for it to be distributed in a platform-independent format. COMNET’s use of XML enables consistency as well as flexibility in the reporting process. Thus the XML schema for COMNET Standard Output facilitates straightforward data transfer from users to rating authorities. This standard is publicly available for vendors to incorporate in their building energy simulator software.
Testimonials
"The new COMNET portal gives software users a streamlined solution to completing LEED templates that will increase productivity and reduce the mistakes that are prone to happen when filling the templates by hand. Having completed several hundred templates by hand, our firm sees immense value in this new approach."
- Martyn Dodd, Principal, EnergySoft
"The COMNET portal will allow design teams to spend more time focusing on optimization of proposed designs, rather than non value-adding tasks. I envision at least a day’s worth of time saved from not having to manually fill out forms for EAp2 and EAc1. The eventual automation of baseline model generation will result in substantial time savings, particularly for more complex projects. These savings can be passed on to the team to fund additional energy conservation measures or further focused building physics analysis."
- Roger Chang, Principal and Director of Sustainability, Westlake Reed Leskosky