Can you guarantee that the completed building will match the performance predicted by the analysis in its day-to-day operations?

You cannot guarantee this, as the actual performance of a building depends not only on how it was built but also on how it is operated, and the later varies significantly depending on who is operating the building. Also, like any type of modeling, the performance analysis is based on a series of assumptions that, while they are as best as the designer can do, they are assumptions and the values in real life may be different.

When choosing settings for each of the building performance factors, should you always choose the setting that gives the absolute lowest predicted energy use?

No. The setting that gives the absolute lowest predicted energy use is not always the best option. When deciding on a setting, there are other factors that should be taken into account such as cost of implementation and whether or not the setting presents an obstacle for the intended use of the building. For example, if a building is intended to operate as a greenhouse that uses natural light, setting the glazing area to 0% would render the building useless for its intended purpose.

How can you use Insight feedback to make design choices regarding materials, lighting, PV, etc.?

Insight feedback is a very powerful tool in that it allows the design team, very early on in the design process, to make better informed decisions on how certain materials or building design components will affect the building's energy consumption. Using insight feedback, the design team can quickly and easily try out different materials and building settings to ensure that the final design in in line with the project objectives in terms of building performance.

4D simulations are often used to show the construction sequence for an entire project, but shorter simulations that focus on a specific period of time are also useful.

• Can you provide examples of how a simulation that focuses on a 1 or 2 week period could be useful for planning?

What level of detail should be included in a 4D simulation?

• Should you include all of the elements in the building model?

How can the feedback shown in a 4D simulation help you to optimize the project schedule?

• What are the main benefits of linking model elements to the project schedule?

How can model-based quantity takeoff improve the design process?

How can designers improve their designs using the information provided by preliminary estimates of the cost of building their design ideas?