Decision support tools for building code energy efficiency compliance

This paper describes research related to the New Zealand Building Code. It reports a survey ofinternational approaches to building energy performance regulation. It also examines the use ofsimulation and other design tools by New Zealand building consultants. The proposed code approach isonly to research the appropriate Acceptable Solutions for small buildings Large buildings are such a smallpercentage of total construction that they will be subject to specific design using simulation programs.The research established that at present: only engineering consultants use computers; a very smallpercentage use simulation; all want procedures that are simple; almost ali are interested in energy efficiency.