Code Compliance
Appendix G baseline generation, proposed design simulation, and compliance documentation. The methodology behind LEED, IECC, ENERGY STAR, and every code that references 90.1.
The Bottleneck
Performance path compliance requires two complete building energy models — a code-minimum baseline and the proposed design — both simulated for 8,760 hours. The baseline model must follow hundreds of Appendix G rules for system selection, envelope defaults, and schedules. Getting the baseline wrong means the compliance submission fails review.
Without Roovie
66–113 hours
$12.5K–$29K in specialist fees
With Roovie
Days, not months
Subscription-based, no per-building fees
Baseline model errors are the #1 cause of ASHRAE 90.1 compliance failures. Roovie eliminates them.
The Full Workflow
Every performance path project follows the same 8 steps. Roovie fully automates 5 of them — the 5 that consume the most hours and introduce the most errors.
Identify which edition of ASHRAE 90.1 has been adopted by the jurisdiction. Edition determines envelope tables, baseline system rules, and LPD values.
Select performance path over prescriptive path. Strategic decision based on project design, budget, and certification goals.
Construct the Appendix G code-minimum baseline: HVAC system type per Table G3.1.1, envelope defaults by climate zone, LPD from Table 9.5.1, schedules per Appendix G.
Translate the architectural and mechanical design into a simulation-ready energy model. Geometry, envelope assemblies, HVAC systems, and schedules.
Execute 8,760-hour annual simulations for both baseline and proposed models. Validate unmet hours and convergence.
Compare baseline and proposed energy costs by end use. Calculate the percentage improvement that determines compliance or LEED point thresholds.
Assemble the compliance submission: input/output tables, energy cost summaries, unmet hours report, narrative sections formatted for the authority having jurisdiction.
File the compliance package with the authority having jurisdiction. Respond to reviewer comments and re-run simulations if required.
Traditional
66–113 specialist hours
$12.5K–$29K per building
4–8 weeks timeline
Baseline errors: industry #1 failure mode
With Roovie
9–22 hours remaining
Subscription-based — no per-building fees
Days — not weeks
Baseline errors: eliminated
Where Projects Fail
Baseline model errors are the #1 cause of ASHRAE 90.1 compliance failures and GBCI/AHJ review rejections. Step 3 — building the Appendix G baseline — requires selecting the correct HVAC system type, applying the right envelope defaults for the climate zone and 90.1 edition, enforcing the window-to-wall ratio cap, and matching schedules. Getting any of these wrong invalidates the entire submission.
What goes wrong
Table G3.1.1 assigns baseline HVAC by building area, fuel type, and use. A 180,000 SF mixed-use building needs different systems for residential vs. commercial portions. Engineers often apply the dominant system type to the whole building or miscalculate the area threshold.
Impact
Swings the % improvement by 5–15%. Can make a compliant building appear non-compliant.
Roovie fix
System type selected automatically from building area, fuel type, and use type. Rule applied exactly as written.
What goes wrong
Baseline envelope values vary by climate zone AND by 90.1 edition. An engineer in CZ 4A using the 2016 edition must use the 2016 Table 5.5 for CZ 4A — not the 2019 table, not the 2016 table for CZ 5A. Edition and climate zone mix-ups are common across multi-jurisdiction firms.
Impact
Wrong envelope defaults shift baseline energy consumption, changing the compliance result.
Roovie fix
Climate zone determined automatically from building address. Envelope defaults looked up programmatically from the correct edition’s table.
What goes wrong
If proposed WWR exceeds 40%, the baseline must be modeled at 40%. Many engineers model the baseline with the proposed building’s actual WWR (often 50%+ for curtain wall), creating a baseline with too much window area.
Impact
Adds 3–8% to apparent % improvement — building looks more efficient than it is.
Roovie fix
WWR calculated automatically from geometry. If >40%, baseline modeled at 40%.
What goes wrong
Baseline and proposed must use identical schedules unless the proposed design includes schedule-based ECMs. Using different schedules between models is a common error.
Impact
Unequal comparison between baseline and proposed invalidates the analysis.
Roovie fix
Both models assigned Appendix G schedules from the same validated library. Any differences are intentional and documented.
Every rule. Every edition. Every climate zone. Applied automatically from a single ASHRAE 140-2020 validated rule set.
What Changes
Coverage
ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G is the simulation methodology behind most energy codes and green building programs in the United States. One validated engine covers all of them.
How it uses Appendix G
This IS the standard. Full Appendix G compliance requires baseline + proposed simulation and compliance reporting.
What Roovie delivers
Full Appendix G compliance package — automatic baseline generation, proposed model, concurrent simulation, and AHJ-ready documentation.
How it uses Appendix G
IECC defers to ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G for the simulation methodology. Same rules, same baseline requirements.
What Roovie delivers
Same workflow — one model satisfies both ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC. No additional modeling work.
How it uses Appendix G
EA Prerequisite requires Appendix G simulation showing ≥5% improvement. EA Optimize awards up to 18 points for additional improvement through iterative scenario testing.
What Roovie delivers
Full prerequisite simulation + iterative ECM scenario testing. Maximize point capture by testing dozens of scenarios in minutes instead of days.
How it uses Appendix G
Uses Appendix G methodology + EPA Target Finder scoring to determine if the building qualifies for ENERGY STAR certification.
What Roovie delivers
Simulation output feeds directly into Target Finder scoring. Same Appendix G methodology supports the energy model requirement.
How it uses Appendix G
Green Globes accepts ASHRAE 90.1 performance rating methodology for energy performance assessment.
What Roovie delivers
Same Appendix G simulation path — no additional modeling methodology required.
How it uses Appendix G
Requires design-phase whole-building energy simulation for net-zero energy verification. Any validated simulation tool accepted.
What Roovie delivers
Design-phase simulation + renewable sizing analysis. ASHRAE 140-2020 validated engine meets the tool requirements.
How it uses Appendix G
Thermal comfort credits require zone-level temperature and humidity data from energy simulation to verify ASHRAE Standard 55 compliance.
What Roovie delivers
Zone-level simulation outputs map directly to ASHRAE 55 documentation requirements.
Every simulation runs on the same ASHRAE 140-2020 validated physics engine. One platform. Seven compliance paths.