An integrated approach to energy analysis in building design – the relocatable classroom project

In 2005, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) in the Victorian State of Australia introduced a new design for relocatable classroom buildings known as the „N1‟ design.  This was further refined in the „N2‟ design incorporating additional Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) features.  This paper presents further improvements made to the „N2‟ relocatable classroom particularly with respect to operational and embodied energy through the use of building energy and lifecycle modelling during the early stages of the design process.  This paper highlights how building modelling and life cycle thinking approaches may assist building design and construction.