Workshops
Workshop 1: Modelling and simulation of building energy systems using the Modelica language
Time: 9:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 16:00, June 17.
Workshop description
Modelica is an equation-based, acausal and object-oriented modelling language designed for the simulation of complex physical systems across various domains, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, and control systems. It is a preferred choice for system-level simulation and design optimization in diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and robotics. It has witnessed a growing interest in the buildings sector, and is currently being employed in the development of next generation energy simulation tool Spawn of EnergyPlus supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The latest ASHRAE Standard 231P “A Control Description Language for Building Environmental Control Sequences” is also based on the Modelica language.
In this course, we will first give an introduction to the Modelica language and its basic syntax and then present briefly the open-source model library Modelica Buildings. Afterwards, we will discuss best practices in setting up thermo-fluid flow models and how to avoid potential problems. In hands-on exercises, participants will practice constructing models of simple heating and air conditioning systems, linking them to a thermal load, and adding feedback control. The models will be built by leveraging components from the Modelica Buildings Library.
Expected experience: No previous Modelica experience is needed for this course.
Workshop instructors: Kun Zhang & Massimo Cimmino
Kun Zhang is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at École de technologie supérieure in Montréal. His research focus on the development of next-generation modelling languages and tools, advanced controls, data analytics, and machine learning and investigates the best approach to integrate them into buildings and cities to improve energy efficiency and flexibility. He has developed models included in the Modelica Buildings library, as well as developed Modelica-based models for Model Predictive Control (MPC) and implemented MPC controllers for real buildings. He has contributed to the development of Spawn of EnergyPlus and the Control Description Language.
Massimo Cimmino is an Associate professor at Polytechnique Montréal. His research expertise covers all aspects of modelling and simulation of ground source heat pump systems, and their application in design and control. He is a member of the IBPSA Modelica working group. He developed, amongst others, geothermal simulation models for the Modelica-IBPSA and Modelica Buildings libraries. He is the founder and main contributor to the free and open-source project pygfunction, a Python package for the heat transfer modelling of geothermal borehole fields.
Workshop 2: Modeling urban climate with CFD based models
Time: 9:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 16:00, June 17.
Workshop description
Understanding and predicting urban climate has become essential for designing resilient and comfortable cities. This full-day (6-hour) workshop introduces participants to the complete modeling chain used to simulate urban climate through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), from regional atmospheric conditions to neighborhood-scale analyses. Using a combination of pre-configured open-source tools and hands-on examples, participants will learn how to reproduce and explore realistic urban environments under varying climatic conditions.
The morning session (3 hours) begins with an introduction to the hierarchy of models commonly used in urban climate studies, illustrating how large-scale data from ERA5 and mesoscale simulations with WRF can be downscaled to drive detailed CFD simulations at the street and building scale. The focus will then shift to the use of urbanMicroclimateFoam, an OpenFOAM-based solver developed to analyze coupled wind, heat, and radiation processes in urban areas. Through guided tutorials, participants will run simplified “push-button” examples such as a single building and a typical street canyon to understand model structure, boundary conditions, and computational workflow.
The afternoon session (3 hours) is dedicated to a more complex case study: an urban district of Montreal simulated under realistic summer conditions. Participants will learn how to navigate the simulation results using ParaView, visualize temperature, airflow, and comfort indicators such as the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and interpret the influence of urban form and vegetation on local climate.
Participants must bring their own laptop. All required software and additional technical instructions will be provided in advance of the workshop. A dedicated Linux-based virtual machine environment will be made available for all hands-on activities. By the end of the day, attendees will have a clear overview of the practical steps, challenges, and possibilities of urban climate modeling with CFD, from data preparation to post-processing and interpretation of results.
Workshop instructor: Clément Nevers
Workshop 3: From Data to Flexibility: Data-Driven Modeling and Model Predictive Control (MPC) for Energy Flexibility in Real Buildings
Time: 9:00 - 12:00, June 17.
Workshop description
Advanced control strategies such as Model Predictive Control (MPC) are widely recognized as key enablers for energy efficiency, decarbonization, and grid-interactive buildings. However, despite decades of research, MPC adoption in real buildings remains limited due to modeling complexity, implementation barriers, lack of standardized workflows, and limited training for practitioners. This workshop proposes a hands-on, practice-oriented session that bridges the gap between academic MPC theory and real-world deployment, based on multiple full-scale field implementations in electrically heated school and institutional buildings in cold climates. The workshop builds on peer-reviewed field studies, review papers, and software development experience demonstrating how grey-box archetype models, Python-based tools, and MPC approaches can dramatically reduce implementation effort while delivering measured energy flexibility, peak reduction, and cost savings.
In this workshop, we will first introduce the fundamentals of control-oriented building modeling and explain why many MPC projects fail to transition from research to practice. We will then present a systematic grey-box (RC) modeling framework and demonstrate how archetype-based approaches enable scalable deployment across multiple buildings. Afterwards, we will discuss best practices in formulating MPC problems with comfort, cost, and flexibility objectives, and explain practical considerations for integration with Building Automation Systems (BAS). In hands-on demonstrations, participants will follow the complete workflow from measured data to calibrated models, MPC implementation in Python, and quantification of energy flexibility using key performance indicators. Real case studies from electrically heated schools and institutional buildings operated under grid-responsive tariffs will be presented throughout the session.
Expected experience: No prior MPC experience is required. Basic knowledge of HVAC systems and building energy systems is recommended.
Requirements: Participants are required to bring their own laptops. Python/Jupyter codes will be provided in advance.
Workshop instructors: Navid Morovat & José Candanedo
Navid Morovat is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University and a member of the Centre for Zero Energy Building Studies. His research focuses on control-oriented modelling, model predictive control (MPC), machine learning techniques, grid-integrated control of buildings, and activation of energy flexibility in buildings. He has led and contributed to multiple MPC field implementations in real buildings. His work integrates control theory, data-driven modelling, electrification strategies (including PV, Battery, and Heat pumps), and flexibility metrics to support decarbonization, peak load reduction, and resilient infrastructure. He is actively involved in international research initiatives, including IEA EBC Annex 96 on Grid-Integrated Control of Buildings and contributes to the advancement of scalable, practice-oriented solutions for smart and energy-flexible buildings.
José Candanedo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Université de Sherbrooke. His research focuses on renewable energy integration, thermal storage, smart and predictive controls, building-grid interaction, and data-driven modelling to support decarbonization, reduce energy costs, and enhance comfort and resilience. He has played a leading role in international initiatives, including IEA EBC Annex 81 on Data-Driven Smart Buildings, contributing to the advancement of intelligent and scalable building technologies.
Workshop 4: Hands-on Technical Workshop on the Passive House Approach: Design, Construction, and Energy Modeling
Time: 13:00 - 16:00, June 17.
Workshop description
This hands-on technical workshop focuses on the Passive House approach, combining theoretical presentations, physical model manipulation, and calculation exercises. Participants are introduced to the fundamental principles, carry out air-tightness details on physical mock-ups, and then work in teams to estimate the energy impact of thermal bridges using simplified calculations based on heating degree days (HDD). The workshop explicitly links design, construction, and energy modeling.
Section 1 of the workshop covers key theoretical concepts. It begins with an introduction to the Passive House concepts (50 minutes). The objectives are to establish a shared baseline of understanding, introduce the physical principles underlying the Passive House approach, and connect design, construction, and energy modeling. This section provides context on the limitations of traditional energy-efficiency approaches, operational carbon and electrical grid resilience, comfort and energy poverty issues, and Passive House as a measurable and rigorous design framework. The origins and evolution of the certification are then presented, followed by the core concepts. A transition to the practical workshops concludes this section.
Section 2 consists of a practical workshop focusing on the building envelope and air-tightness (60 minutes). The objectives are to make air-tightness and hygrothermal control principles tangible and to understand the real-world impacts of construction details on building performance. An introductory lecture (15 minutes) presents basic hygrometric principles, including the differences between air flow and vapor diffusion, the role of moisture in assembly durability, and air-tightness strategies. The hands-on component (45 minutes) involves the manipulation of physical mock-ups, the implementation of typical air-tightness details, and a collective analysis of critical points, followed by discussion.
The final section includes a theoretical exercise on thermal bridges and a simplified HDD-based calculation (60 minutes). Its goal is to develop an understanding of the real impact of thermal bridges, demystify their quantification, and foster reasoning applicable to both design and energy simulation. The section begins with a theoretical review (25 minutes) covering types of thermal bridges, their impacts, and methods of quantification. The exercise is then introduced (5 minutes), including the problem statement, simplified assumptions, provided data, and expected results. Participants then work in teams of four (25 minutes) to estimate the energy impact of different scenarios and compare cases with and without thermal bridges. Finally, each team presents a brief summary of its results (5 minutes), followed by a collective discussion and reflection on professional practice.
Workshop instructor: Raphael Boisjoly, ing., CPHC, energy efficiency project manager at Akonovia
