Reference building models are standardized and technically consistent representations of typical building typologies within a given sector (such as commercial, institutional, or residential). They synthesize architectural, construction, operational, and energy characteristics based on empirical data and are used as comparative baselines in thermal and energy performance simulations. These models are essential for public policy formulation, as they enable the definition of national benchmarks, the development of energy labeling systems, the assessment of retrofit strategies, and the guidance of building energy codes and regulations. By reflecting the actual behavior of buildings in different climatic zones, reference models allow for consistent analyses, fair comparisons, and robust projections of energy consumption and emissions in the building sector.
For Brazil, LabEEE has developed a set of reference models for non-residential buildings, focusing on detailed energy simulation and supporting the formulation and implementation of energy efficiency policies. The study, which reports the development process of these models, was published in the journal Energy & Buildings, representing a significant methodological advancement for the commercial building sector in Brazil.
The research resulted in the creation of 13 representative models of commercial, service, and institutional building typologies — including administrative offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, bank branches, supermarkets, retail stores, and restaurants. Each model was built based on empirical data on the national building stock, incorporating typical geometry, thermal envelope parameters (such as thermal transmittance, thermal capacity, and solar absorptance), internal loads, occupancy schedules, and HVAC systems. The definitions follow the guidelines of INI-C (Normative Instruction for Energy Efficiency in Commercial, Service, and Public Buildings) and the NBR 15575:2021 standard.
The models were simulated in 12 Brazilian bioclimatic zones, enabling the development of climate- and typology-specific benchmarks for final energy consumption, thermal loads, and performance indicators. The results highlight the heterogeneity of energy consumption across typologies, with notably high energy use in supermarkets and bank branches. These reference models enable robust comparisons with real buildings (via the DEO-PROCEL system) and provide technical support for building energy labeling, regulatory updates, and the development of retrofit and decarbonization strategies.
📄 The full article is available at:
Geraldi, M., Garlet, L., Hansen Gapski Pereira, N., de Castro Quevedo, T., Melo, A. P., & Lamberts, R. Developing reference building models for the non-residential sector to support public policies in Brazil. Energy & Buildings, 332, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115419
📁 The IDF-format models are available for consultation and use:
Geraldi, M., Garlet, L., Hansen Gapski Pereira, N., de Castro Quevedo, T., Melo, A. P., & Lamberts, R. (2025). Reference Building Energy Models for the Brazilian Commercial Sector. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14640510