Trial / Demo
RDT Engineers (RDT) deployed IESVE software to deliver a high-fidelity performance digital twin for a complex university facility. By aligning physics-based simulation with real-world post-occupancy data, the team achieved an unprecedented 99% accuracy rate, securing triple-certification and de-risking the university’s HVAC investment.
The Strategic Challenge: Precision in a Multi-Use Environment
RDT Engineers were tasked with de-risking the University of Madrid’s new multi-use facility. The building had a complex architectural footprint, housing high-tech laboratories and specialized technical spaces alongside traditional, high-occupancy classrooms.
The project faced rigorous scrutiny under Spanish energy regulations. The objective was a triple certification of LEED, BREEAM and the emerging KREEAN global standard. RDT needed a simulation environment capable of quantifying carbon emissions and validating HVAC performance with absolute certainty.
Solution: Why IESVE?
RDT selected IESVE for its whole-building approach. While simpler tools exist, RDT found that they often lack the granular connectivity required to model complex HVAC-BMS interactions.
“IESVE provides the most realistic representation of a building’s performance. We modeled the entire HVAC unit, connecting sensors and identifying specific flows and temperatures with a level of detail that mirrors the actual BMS.”
Marcos Gonzalez, Sustainability & Energy Consultant, RDT
By utilizing ApacheHVAC, RDT moved beyond static profiles to model dynamic occupant behavior. MacroFlo was integrated to simulate natural ventilation, allowing the team to maximize passive cooling and reduce mechanical demand.
Innovation: Efficiency through Automation
To increase productivity, VE Python API could script the data conversion process, enabling the team to automate raw simulation results into professional, client-ready reports. This accelerated project delivery timelines while eliminating the risk of manual error in complex carbon reporting. The IES Service app also ensured the consultancy team remained synchronized and could track the project in real time, eliminating communication silos across the project lifecycle.
The Results: Within 1% of Reality
One month post-occupancy, a direct comparison between utility data and the IESVE model revealed an unrivalled level of accuracy. The simulation was within 1% of reality, with specific thermal profiles achieving an astonishing 0.8% precision rate.
This level of accuracy provided the data required to navigate the KREEAN standards and secure LEED/BREEAM validation. By delivering such precise simulation of the building's performance, RDT and IES successfully transformed theoretical design into a verified digital representation of a high-performance building.
“I have worked with IES on several hundred projects now, and the IES team are great, always providing excellent support when we need it.”
Marcos Gonzalez, Sustainability & Energy Consultant, RDT
Looking Ahead: The Path to IES Live
With a high-fidelity model established, RDT is looking to expand their IES license portfolio, and move toward real-time operational optimization. By transitioning to IES Live, the model will evolve alongside the building’s BMS, ensuring the University of Madrid facility remains at peak energy efficiency.
