Built Environment Research

NML partners with leading institutions, government agencies, and technical organizations to advance high-impact research in energy efficiency, climate resilience, and building systems innovation. Our work spans code development, field studies, and simulation-driven analysis providing evidence-based insights to support policy, technology deployment, and scalable performance strategies across the built environment.

Data Infrastructure

NML designs scalable data infrastructure for building performance workflows by transforming unstructured data lakes into interoperable, analytics-ready environments. We specialize in tool-agnostic data pipelines for ingestion, normalization, and validation, enabling streamlined integration across modeling platforms, asset management systems, and compliance workflows.

Artificial Intelligence

NML leverages AI to streamline building science workflows. NML has deployed AI platforms that can interpret design intent, review models against code and performance standards, and automate documentation and reporting. These capabilities enable project teams to cut manual review times, standardize quality checks, and gain rapid insights from complex datasets. By integrating GenAI into simulation, compliance, and design processes, we’re building the foundation for AI-driven design automation and diagnostics.

Software & Web Development

NML develops custom, web-based platforms and backend systems for performance modeling, simulation, and workflow automation. Our solutions are engineered for real-world deployment – bridging user-friendly interfaces with robust technical engines that support compliance, optimization, and design intelligence at scale.

Building Performance Consulting & Analysis

NML provides deep technical consulting in building physics, energy modeling, and building systems optimization. We support complex projects with stringent IEQ, façade, and system integration needs leveraging advanced simulation tools, calibrated models, and performance diagnostics to guide high-impact design and retrofit strategies.

Education, Training, & Expert Reviews

NML offers advanced training in AI, building performance simulation, data engineering, building codes and standards, compliance automation, and other related areas. We serve as expert reviewers for codes, standards, funding proposals, and design documentation providing technical QA, validation support, and strategic guidance to firms, jurisdictions, and research consortia.

A Next-Gen Web Interface for Architects & Engineers

Department of Energy (DOE) & Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Software & Web Development Built Environment Research Large-scale Parametric Cloud EnergyPlus Simulations High-performance Computing Artificial Intelligence

NML and ORNL are jointly developing a next-generation web application for architects and engineers through DOE's Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BRTIC) funding. This platform will use standard input/output schemas for fenestration and opaque envelope data used in energy modeling and integrate backend EnergyPlus modeling capabilities. It will streamline envelope performance evaluation, support real-time code compliance checks, and deliver interoperability with certified product databases. ORNL’s technical foundation in envelope systems and high-performance computing will support scalable simulations to enable AI training. The result is an intuitive, web application that democratizes performance analysis for non-modelers while advancing AI-driven design automation.

ASHRAE Standard 205 Maintenance & Development

Department of Energy (DOE) & Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Software Development ASHRAE Standards Data Interoperability Equipment Performance Data Envelope Selection & Specification

NML has been contracted by the DOE's Building Technologies Office via ANL to support the continued advancement of ASHRAE Standard 205. As part of the project team, NML is developing a Python package to standardize fenestration component performance data for integration into building simulation workflows. The tool will enable translation of NFRC-rated window system data - glazing, frames, shading, and air gaps into Standard 205-compliant CBOR files. This effort supports BTO’s goal of improving data interoperability across simulation, design, and compliance workflows within the evolving Standard 205 framework.

Operating Room Ventilation Big Data Study

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Building Performance Consulting & Analysis ASHRAE Standard 170 Data Preperation Data Analytics Building Ventilation & Infection Prevention

Building upon the pilot research conducted by NML and Moka, the team is collecting operating room ventilation test and balance data from 40 New York hospitals and comparing it to publically available surgical site infection data. NML is leveraging its vast network to gather data for approx. 500 operating rooms, standardizing data diverse formats into a unified database, and developing a novel data-drive QA protocol. Moka then does a Pearson correlation to assess the relationship between ventilation rates and infection outcomes. Given the many variables in infection rates, the project aims to collect data from about 600 hospitals to achieve statistical significance through large-sample normalization of external factors.

Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Building Performance Consulting & Analysis Authoring Guides, Codes, and Standards International - Africa Resilience Natural Ventilation Design Guide

Supporting the Sextant Foundation team, NML developed enhanced natural ventilation design specifications for primary health clinics and schools in Nigeria. The specifications built upon the CIBSE AM10 Natural Ventilation design guide and responded to extreme heat, high winds, droughts, sandstorms, wildfires, floods, insects, and security. NML also developed a natural ventilation operational guide that responds to these threats while still enhancing thermal comfort. For example, clerestory windows small enough to prevent intruders from entering would be left open at night to allow for nighttime pre-cooling of the thermal mass. Similarly managing solar gain and precipitation with overhangs to prevent heat gain and wind driven precipitation from entering the space.

Sustainability Standards Update & Energy Model Peer Review

University of Michigan

Authoring Guides, Codes, and Standards Expert Reviews ASHRAE 90.1-2019 LEED v5 IES-VE/EnergyPlus/eQUEST/Trane TRACE 700

NML conducted a detailed review of the University of Michigan sustainability standards, aligning them with Michigan’s adoption of ASHRAE 90.1-2019 and the release of LEED v5. Updates included removing requirements now covered under ASHRAE 90.1 and adding new ones to reflect best practices in embodied and operational carbon, water efficiency, resilience, and indoor air quality. NML also developed a streamlined whole-building modeling guide. NML provides ongoing peer reviews of energy models for university projects during schematic design and design development phases. Reviews ensure compliance with university requirements for energy efficiency, carbon emissions, energy cost, and LEED certification.

Smart Pressure Independent Control Valve Study

Slipstream & Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)

Utility Incentives Assessment Building Technology Research Building Management Systems Smart Controls Market Research

NML supported Slipstream in a ComEd-funded study by providing data analysis, technical insights, and market research to evaluate smart pressure independent control valves (PICVs) for AHU cooling coils in a 778,000 ft² hospital. Smart controls were added to 19 existing PICVs to assess energy savings in hydronic cooling distribution. NML processed data from the building automation system, Slipstream-installed loggers, and smart PICV sensors. The analysis informed utility incentive design and yielded operational recommendations. When implemented, these measures are expected to improve chilled water ΔT by 5–6°F, enhancing system efficiency and informing broader adoption of smart PICV technology.

Electrifying Heat in an Existing Hospital

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) & Providence Health

Building Performance Consulting & Analysis Building Management Systems Data Preparation EnergyPlus Energy Model Calibration

This project supported American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE’s) initiative to evaluate electrification strategies for existing hospitals through detailed energy modeling and cost analysis. The scope included – site surveys, utility bill analysis, BMS data analysis, developing a calibrated energy model using EnergyPlus, and detailed cost modeling for decarbonization measures. The ASHRAE Guideline 14 calibrated energy model was also used to fill data gaps in measured building data. Simulations were calibrated to reflect real-world operations, enabling accurate comparisons across retrofit scenarios. The project delivered insights into lifecycle costs, emissions outcomes, and infrastructure requirements for hospitals exploring electrification as a viable decarbonization pathway.

Energy Codes Training For Code Officials

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) & University of Wisconsin-Madison

Energy Codes Training Energy Codes Compliance ASHRAE 90.1 & IECC Authority Having Jurisdiction Building Performance Standards

NML co-instructed the 2024 Wisconsin Commercial Building Code training series organized in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Held across four strategic locations – Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire, and Pewaukee, the training engaged code reviewers, plan reviewers, building professionals from regional and local jurisdictions throughout the state. The program covered critical updates to the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, incorporating the 2021 International Building Code and energy conservation provisions. NML’s involvement reflects its commitment to staying current with evolving building regulations and supporting code-compliant design and consulting practices.

Future Climate Data Generator

Stantec

Built Environment Research Software Development Built Environment Resilience Building Design & Analysis Stochastic Climate Data

NML partnered with Indra Science Limited to pilot a novel method for developing predictive stochastic future climate data for select locations within the US and Canada. These files were reviewed by Stantec’s in-house climatologists to confirm accuracy with existing international sources for inclusion into existing Stantec workflows. A follow-up phase is set to expand the project's scope to many more location to advance Stantec’s resiliency practice.